Ethical horizon scanning and peer support in Switzerland: Experiences of professionals engaged in clinical ethics during the Corona pandemic

The Corona pandemic had unprecedented challenges for health care systems throughout the world – both in wealthy and in developing countries. As in other countries, in Switzerland clinical ethicists, members of clinical ethics committees, and other professionals engaged in the field of clinical ethics were at the forefront of the crisis. They faced numerous ethical challenges, were highly involved, and had much responsibility to healthcare professionals and patients. Very soon the need for peer support emerged. Up to this point, there was no national platform for a regular exchange among clinical ethicists and other professionals engaged in clinical ethics in Switzerland. Therefore, in March 2020 regular online-meetings were initiated, which subsequently received high attention. Soon it became obvious that the meetings were helpful in two ways: As a peer support system in morally very challenging times for the population, clinicians and ethicists alike. And, as a means/way for horizon scanning regarding ethical issues, since the mutual exchange revealed ethically relevant topics at a very early stage of their development.

Methods
Content analysis of protocols and outcomes of the online-meetings from March 2020 onwards and survey among the ad hoc-group of clinical ethicists, members of clinical ethics committees, and other professionals engaged in clinical ethics in Switzerland meeting regularly from February 2020 until today. Using an online-questionnaire and analyzing the content of the protocols the issues, roles, strategies, resources, and experiences of the professionals attending the online-meetings during the three waves of the Corona pandemic will be explored.

Outcome / Conclusion
The complexity of requests for clinical ethics support and the importance of a peer community of clinical ethicists and other professionals engaged in this field in responding to these requests will be highlighted. In order to make the various ethically relevant facets of the pandemic more visible and thus creating a basis for recognizing the links between the ethical challenges and find solutions with benefit for healthcare workers and all patients needing care.