The Management of COVID-19 in Care Homes in Ireland And England: Ethical and Legal Issues in a Time of Pandemic

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the key issues that arose in relation to the management of COVID-19 in care homes in Ireland and England between February 2020 and December 2021, with reference to relevant policies, processes, and practices. There is a particular focus on the first wave of the pandemic between February and June 2020, where the risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 was highest for residents in care homes. The paper examines a number of key issues impacting management of the risk posed by COVID-19 in care homes including the availability of testing; the use of personal protective equipment; staffing; safe discharge from hospitals; the use of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Orders (DNACPR); visiting and access restrictions; and the recording of care home deaths. A critical analysis is also provided of broader themes impacting the management of COVID-19 in care homes during 2020-21, including ethical issues, human rights, regulatory governance and accountability.

Note:
Funding Information: Research for the workshop paper was undertaken as part of the Public Heath Ethics and Law Research Network project, which is jointly funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ES/V009222/1) and the Irish Research Council (IRC/V009222/1).

Conflict of Interests: None.

Keywords: COVID-19, Care Homes, Ethics, Human Rights, Law, Regulation, Governance, Accountability