The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in restrictions on hospital visits for patients’ relatives. This has led ICUs to explore alternatives to physical visits including videoconferencing, which has the potential to improve the experience of patients who would otherwise be completely isolated from family and friends, however raises a number of legal and ethical issues.
The Intensive Care Society’s Legal and Ethical Advisory Group (LEAG), has developed this good practice guide to assist units looking to utilise videoconferencing technology. This guidance has been reviewed by ICS Patient and Relatives Committee and ICU Steps and has been endorsed by PCCS.
