Research focus
CancerCOVID
CancerCOVID – Resource allocation for cancer medicine in the context of Sars-CoV-2
The pandemic triggered by the novel SARS-CoV-2 poses unprecedented challenges for the German health system. There are currently no effective therapies to treat the lung disease covid-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.
The allocation of resources in patient care in times of a pandemic has ethically and clinically relevant implications for patient groups not affected by covid-19.
The aim of the interdisciplinary CancerCOVID consortium is to develop evidence-based and ethically informed guidelines for the care of patients with tumour diseases. To this end, an interview study on the ethical challenges of the pandemic is being conducted with patients suffering from cancer and representatives of different health care professions. To what extent are tumour patients psychologically burdened? What are the additional social and ethical challenges during the pandemic? How can good care be provided when resources are scarce?
The results will be discussed with decision-makers from oncology and health policy and recommendations for better care will be developed in preparation for similar situations of resource scarcity.