A pandemia de COVID-19 fez-nos questionar práticas diárias até então instituídas, como o simples aperto de mão. Levantou também outras questões, algumas de índole ético-legal. Estarão a ser cumpridos os princípios éticos que devem orientar a prestação de cuidados individualizados? Conseguiremos nós, profissionais de saúde, fornecer instrumentos aos doentes para que possam usufruir plenamente do seu direito de autonomia? A garantia de soluções de segurança necessárias, para diminuir o risco de contágio na prestação de cuidados, salvaguarda o princípio da não maleficiência. Todavia, o risco de contágio é impossível de eliminar na totalidade, existindo um risco residual associado à utilização das instalações físicas dos serviços de saúde. Mas, não deverá a decisão de assumir esse risco ser alvo do arbítrio livre, informado e esclarecido do doente? A diminuição da atividade assistencial presencial motivou a incorporação de outras ferramentas de comunicação como telefone, correio eletrónico e videochamada. Poderá o paciente realmente decidir sobre a forma como prefere ser consultado, ou estaremos nós a impor o modelo de consulta? Nos últimos meses ocorreram mudanças profundas na forma de trabalho em Saúde, que permanecerão. Não existirão, contudo, princípios éticos da biomedicina, que deverão sempre prevalecer?
Palavras-chave:
COVID-19, Telemedicina, Consulta Remota, Bioética, Autonomia Pessoal
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 made us question daily practices, such as the simple handshake. It also raised some ethical and legal issues. Are the ethical principles, that should guide the provision of individualized care, being fulfilled? Will we, as health professionals, be able to provide patients with instruments so that they can fully exercise their autonomy? The guarantee of necessary security solutions, to reduce the risk of contagion in the provision of care, safeguards the principle of non-maleficence. However, the risk of contagion is impossible to completely eliminate, and there is a residual risk associated with the use of physical facilities in healthcare services. But, shouldn\'t the decision to take that risk be the subject of the patient\'s free and informed will? The incorporation of telemedicine platforms is ideal for managing several challenges posed by COVID-19, such as the decrease in face-to-face health care assistance. Can the patient really decide how he prefers to be consulted, or are we imposing the consultation model? There have been profound changes in healthcare systems. However, one must remember that there are ethical principles of biomedicine, that should always prevail?
Keywords:
COVID-19, Telemedicine, Remote Consultation, Bioethics, Personal Autonomy
Where does patient autonomy live, in times of crisis in Portugal?
Resumo (abstract):
Coronavirus disease 2019 made us question daily practices, such as the simple handshake. It also raised some ethical and legal issues. Are the ethical principles, that should guide the provision of individualized care, being fulfilled? Will we, as health professionals, be able to provide patients with instruments so that they can fully exercise their autonomy? The guarantee of necessary security solutions, to reduce the risk of contagion in the provision of care, safeguards the principle of non-maleficence. However, the risk of contagion is impossible to completely eliminate, and there is a residual risk associated with the use of physical facilities in healthcare services. But, shouldn\'t the decision to take that risk be the subject of the patient\'s free and informed will? The incorporation of telemedicine platforms is ideal for managing several challenges posed by COVID-19, such as the decrease in face-to-face health care assistance. Can the patient really decide how he prefers to be consulted, or are we imposing the consultation model? There have been profound changes in healthcare systems. However, one must remember that there are ethical principles of biomedicine, that should always prevail?
Palavras-chave (keywords):
COVID-19, Telemedicine, Remote Consultation, Bioethics, Personal Autonomy
Fontes, A. F, Barbosa, R. B., Brito, D.. Onde mora a autonomia do paciente em tempos de crise em Portugal?. Cien Saude Colet [periódico na internet] (2020/ago). [Citado em 23/12/2024].
Está disponível em: http://cienciaesaudecoletiva.com.br/artigos/onde-mora-a-autonomia-do-paciente-em-tempos-de-crise-em-portugal/17709?id=17709
