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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Questions (1275, 1282)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1275. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the recommendation by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission that his Department should undertake a participative consultation process with it regarding the "Ethical Framework for Decision-Making in a Pandemic" document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15874/20]

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Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1282. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if a participative consultation process will be undertaken with those most likely to be impacted by the guidance of his Department on prioritisation in access to critical care in the context of Covid-19, which explicitly engages human rights and equality expertise as recommended by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. [15923/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1275 and 1282 together.

The fields of human rights and healthcare ethics are distinct albeit they are inter-related. Human rights principles, in common with normative ethical principles are rooted in values of respect for persons, dignity, justice and equality.

Respect for human rights and dignity of persons is an integral part of the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of this, the Pandemic Ethics Advisory Group (PEAG) was established as an expert subgroup of the NPHET. The PEAG is multidisciplinary in composition and includes members from a broad range of relevant fields, including ethics, medicine, law and patient advocacy.

The subgroup has developed a broad range of national ethical guidance throughout the course of the Covid-19 pandemic with a view to supporting healthcare workers, managers and policy makers as they navigate their way through the ethical challenges and difficult decisions they are called upon to make during this challenging time. The Ethical Framework for Decision Making in a Pandemic and the supporting documents produced by PEAG clearly articulate the importance of fairness, inclusiveness, proportionality, and non-discrimination, all of which are enshrined Human Rights principles.

Given the volatility of the public health emergency and the urgent need for relevant guidance to be produced to address it, it was not feasible or appropriate to the circumstances to conduct an extensive consultation process when developing these guidance documents. However, they were reviewed by senior medical experts from a number of professional bodies including; the Joint Faculty of the Intensive Care Society of Ireland, the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland, and the HSE’s National Clinical Programmes.

The pandemic continues to evolve and the Ethics Guidance documents will be kept under review. Consideration will be given to the appropriateness of broader consultation as part of this process.

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