Promoting Resident Autonomy to Maintain Quality of Life

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian governments and healthcare organizations implemented restrictions on continuing care residents. From an ethical lens, governments and healthcare organizations were focused on preventing harm through promoting beneficence and non-maleficence; however, this was at the expense of resident autonomy. The rights of continuing care residents were stripped away when they were not given the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding their care and day-to-day life.