Medicine Masked: Ethical Implications of Half-Hidden Faces During a Pandemic

The most visible change to medicine in 2020 has rendered human faces only half-visible. In an effort to reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, healthcare professionals everywhere, and patients too, are now wearing face masks covering the nose and mouth whenever meeting in person. Masks block g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEthics & medicine Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 137 - 131
Main Author Cheshire, William P., Jr
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Highland Park Trinity Graduate School 01.10.2020
Bioethics Press
Subjects
Brain research
Communication
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Emotions
Empathy
Epidemics
Health aspects
Health care
Masks
Medical ethics
Medical personnel
Mouth
Neuropsychology
Pandemics
Physician patient relationships
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
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Summary:The most visible change to medicine in 2020 has rendered human faces only half-visible. In an effort to reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, healthcare professionals everywhere, and patients too, are now wearing face masks covering the nose and mouth whenever meeting in person. Masks block germs, but they can also block communication, as positive emotions are conveyed by the lower part of the face. When the mouth is covered, smiles are hidden. Expressions of intent may seem ambiguous, of concern neutral, of empathy imperceptible. Although medically necessary during an infectious pandemic, masks shroud a vital feature of our shared sense of humanity and may lessen the perception of presence at the bedside. In order that the face-to-face healing encounter is not reduced to a rendezvous of the hemianonymous, masked caregivers must be especially intentional in their eye contact, tone of voice, and chosen words.
ISSN:0266-688X
2168-8230