CCBI Resources for COVID-19 Matters – June 4, 2020

Dear Friends of CCBI,

What strange and terrible times! Not only a pandemic in our midst, but the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis (the police officer who caused death has been charged with second degree murder, and three accompanying officers are charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder), has resulted in legitimate and necessary protests, but also in riots, more deaths, vandalism and looting. Systemic racism and appalling social conditions coupled with the tensions of the pandemic have exploded into mass demonstrations in many countries. There have been waves of protests, and unfortunately this may even contribute to prolonging the grip of the corona virus. We know, however, that the pandemic will gradually slow down: COVID-19 is an illness, and although there have been horrific consequences, we can deal with it: a vaccine will eventually be found. Racism, on the other hand, is a disease for which the cure still seems elusive. We can’t inoculate people against racism, but we can live up to our Catholic insistence on the dignity of human life and do all in our power to witness to that, socially, educationally, politically, personally—whatever it takes. Poverty, housing and the social determinants of health are all within the compass of health care and bioethics.

In keeping with that, the articles this week have a more social /political /religious bent. Our first article looks at police brutality during the pandemic, followed by a Globe and Mail link that reminds us there is clearly more than one public health crisis at work in the world. We list one of thousands of articles warning about the persistence of ongoing risks to the elderly: we dare not forget that they remain in more danger than anyone else. Another article draws our attention to the situation in our jails, a more or less forgotten area, yet another area in dire need of radical improvement, not least during the pandemic. How are inmates and staff affected?

An insightful and detailed article from Dr Josephine Lombardi compels us to view our response to the elderly in the manner of the Good Samaritan, followed by an article emphasizing the importance of good nutrition, a basic human requirement and an essential, achievable component of health, sent to us by one of its co-authors, Dr Barbara Powell. Finally, we have included an article which aims to help people deal with stress, which has become increasingly common these past few months for many different reasons: anxiety about health, actual health problems caused by COVID-19, tense and sometimes violent family situations, concerns about employment, financial worries, loneliness (one of the worst in causing depression) and so on—more areas of concern than we can identify. Coincidentally, an article in The Globe and Mail suggests there can also be some benefits from our changed and changing life styles!

As Catholics, together with other people of faith, we know we must turn to the Lord for help. We have just celebrated Pentecost, which reminds us of the unlimited opportunities we have to help our neighbour during this crisis, if we are open to the fullness of the gifts offered to us by the Holy Spirit. From deep within us, those gifts will help us to acknowledge the call to be Good Samaritans, as Dr Lombardi urges.

In June, the month of the Sacred Heart, let us indeed ‘place all our trust’ in Him.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us!

Warm regards,

Moira McQueen, LLB, MDiv, PhD
Executive Director, Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute
Lecturer, Faculty of Theology
University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto

The Globe and Mail: More than one public health crisis

National Catholic Register    Isolation: Elders at Risk

The Globe and Mail: Elder Care Crisis in Jails

Dr Josephine Lombardi: Senior Lives and the Good Samaritan

Vitamin deficiencies make seniors vulnerable say physicians

CANADIAN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATION

Don’t wait for covid-19 to strike protect seniors now

VICTORIA, May 5, 2020—The Canadian Integrative Medicine Association (CIMA) released its COVID-19 Policy today, urging health professionals to address underlying nutritional deficiencies in senior citizens who have been hardest hit by the novel coronavirus.

The 170-member physicians’ group recommends using Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 and zinc, which play important roles in the immune system.

Public Discourse (The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)

The Globe and Mail: Staying at home – a silver lining for some