COVID-19 Statement of Concern: Human rights, disability and ethical decision-making

April 2020

Internationally recognised Australian experts in the areas of human rights, bioethics and disability, have released a Statement of Concern to emphasise key human rights principles and standards that need to underpin ethical decision-making in the context of disability and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Signatories propose the following human rights principles for ethical decision-making:

1. Health care should not be denied or limited to people with disability on the basis of impairment.
2. People with disability should have access to health care, including emergency and critical health care, on the basis of equality with others and based on objective and non-discriminatory clinical criteria.
3. Health care should not be denied or limited because a person with disability requires reasonable accommodation or adjustment.
4. Health care should be provided on the basis of free and informed consent of the person with disability.
5. Health care should not be denied or limited based on quality of life judgements about the person with disability.
6. Ethical decision-making frameworks should be designed with close consultation and active involvement of people with disability and their representative organisations.