Covid-19: Health Disparities and Ethical Challenges Across the Globe

by H. Russell Searight (Editor)

Overview

Internationally, marginalized populations, including indigenous people, refugees fleeing both war and the effects of climate change and people-of-color, have borne a disproportionate share of serious COVID 19 illnesses and deaths. Each contributor has a background in public health, applied psychology, and international issues, bringing a unique perspective and a valuable lens through which to view these issues. Additionally, the authors are members of the COVID-19 Ethics and Legal Issues Task Force within Division 52 (International Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. The task force has spent the last two years describing how COVID-19 has highlighted pre-existing health disparities within the U.S. and internationally. The topics investigated include strategies to manage the pandemic employed by governments in various countries as well as models of medical ethics guiding healthcare decision-making.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783031262005
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	04/08/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	566 KB

About the Author

Dr. H. Russell Searight received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University. He later received a master’s in public health (MPH) from Saint Louis University’s School of Public Health. He has been on the faculty of Saint Louis University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, St Louis University School of Medicine, Algoma University in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, and most recently, at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, where he is currently Professor of Psychology. Dr. Searight has published on the practice of psychology in primary medical care, family therapy, medical education, medical ethics, and issues in undergraduate psychology education. In 2011, Dr. Searight received the Distinguished Teacher award from Lake Superior State University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: COVID-19 ‘s Worldwide Impact and a History of Epidemics.- Chapter 2: The Pre-Existing Conditions Influencing COVID-19’s Impact.- Chapter 3: COVID-19’s Impact on the World’s Population.- Chapter 4: Health Care During COVID 19: Systems and New Developments.- Chapter 5: Disparities, Discrimination and Advocacy.- Chapter 6: Healthcare Disparities: Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations.- Chapter 7: The Ethical Challenges of COVID-19.- Chapter 8: Vaccines: A History and COVID-19 Controversies.- Chapter 9: COVID-19 Testing, Preventive Measures, and Ethical Issues.- Chapter 10: COVID-19: Where are We Now? What Have We Learned?.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Anna A Helm, BS, MPH (Multnomah County)
Description: This book describes the international community's legal and ethical response to COVID-19. It explores factors that lead to health disparities and their effects on individuals, communities, and populations. Further, the book discusses the challenge of defining the relevant domain for ethical decision-making regarding disparities and their remedies.
Purpose: The goals of the book are to address and describe the ethical and legal issues related to COVID-19, with particular emphasis on the international community's response. The book also emphasizes the sharing of information required to broaden the concern and cooperation of disciplines that traditionally focus on individual well-being rather than population or community needs and well-being, as well as successful efforts to address and remedy disparities.
Audience: While the book focuses on the ethical and legal issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the provision of care for those who contracted COVID-19 or were otherwise impacted, it will be of equal interest to individuals involved in the provision of health care in general. Those who advocate for equity in education, access to safe and nutritious food, safe housing, and other resources and opportunities will find the information, conclusions, and recommendations especially valuable. The book will also be an impactful reference for policymakers and program administrators as well as students in the social sciences, public health, public administration, and law.
Features: The book offers extensive discussion and exploration of the need for substantial reductions in socioeconomic disparities, the development of population-level ethical theory, and agreement about a fundamentally acceptable minimum standard of living. It discusses how historical pre-existing income inequity, population populism, distrust of government institutions, and health care financing schemes influenced the care COVID-19 patients received, as well as factors that contributed to some not receiving care or deciding not to seek care. The chapter on COVID-19 ethical dilemmas includes an overview of the several ethical models in health care, including deontology, utilitarianism, principlism, virtue ethics, and justice as fairness, which is especially important and very well presented.
Assessment: This book is certainly one of, if not the, most important in the body of work on the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an excellent book that should be widely read and discussed by policymakers, care providers, and leaders at all levels. Persistent issues associated with COVID-19 and historical disparities could be significantly improved if the ideas, findings, conclusions, observations, and recommendations in the book were more widely understood and implemented.

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