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This article is part of a series on Ethics, edited by Dr Laura Hawryluck.

Commentary

Why can't I visit? The ethics of visitation restrictions – lessons learned from SARS

Sharon Rogers email

Director, Patient Relations (The Hospital Ombudsman), University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2004, 8:300-302doi:10.1186/cc2930

Published: 31 August 2004

Abstract

Patients want, need and expect that their relatives will be able to visit them during inpatient admissions or accompany them during ambulatory visits. The sudden outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), or a similar contagious pathogen, will restrict the number of people entering the hospital. The ethical values that underlie visitor restrictions are discussed here.


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