Ethics framework and recommendations to support capabilities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during pandemics

William Sullivan, Petra Bjorne, John Heng, Ruth Northway

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    A growing body of knowledge highlights the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and their caregivers. The underlying reasons are not only due to biomedical factors but also ethical issues. They stem from longstanding and pervasive structural injustices and negative social attitudes that continue to devalue people with IDD and that underlie certain clinical decisions and frameworks for public-health policies during this pandemic. Unless these fundamental ethical shortcomings are addressed, pandemic responses will continue to undermine the human rights and well-being of people with IDD. This paper proposes an ethics framing for policy and practices regarding clinical care and public health based on Martha Nussbaum's approach to Capability Theory. Such a framework can reorient healthcare professionals and healthcare systems to support the capabilities of people with IDD to protect, recover, and promote health and well-being. It could be applied during this pandemic and in planning for future pandemics. The paper presents some practical recommendations that follow from applying this framework.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number12413
    Pages (from-to)116-124
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities
    Volume19
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2022

    Keywords

    • Intellectual and developmental disabilities
    • Ethics
    • COVID-19
    • health equity
    • health policy

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