Toolkit on best practice for health and social care professionals to respect the rights of persons with disabilities in public health emergencies

Flynn, Eilionóir, Doyle Guilloud, Suzanne, & Parker, April. (2023). Toolkit on best practice for health and social care professionals to respect the rights of persons with disabilities in public health emergencies. Galway: Centre for Disability Law And Policy, University of Galway. https://doi.org/10.13025/842e-gk07

Abstract

Introduction & purpose of toolkit. The Covid-19 pandemic put health and social care services under unprecedented strain. Before the development of effective vaccines, hospitals and intensive care units were pushed to the limit (and beyond) of their human and medical resources. Disability services were required to adapt to the continuously evolving pandemic-related rules and guidance. While it is to be acknowledged that the individuals working in these environments were working in extremely challenging conditions, and often engaged in innovative practice in order to try to preserve and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, there are clear lessons to be drawn from the Covid-19 period - both around the structuring of health and social care services, as well as practices which should be adopted in relation to people with disabilities in public health emergencies of this kind in the future. This toolkit is intended for use as an advocacy tool by disabled persons’ organisations (DPOs) in order to ensure that health and social care professionals (H&SC professionals) comply with their obligations under international human rights law in times of public health emergencies. It centres the experience of persons with disabilities, while also incorporating those of H&SC professionals and policymakers. It is primarily informed by the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It is complemented by a toolkit outlining the obligations of States with respect to the rights of persons with disabilities in times of public health emergencies, which can be found on the ResPoNCE project website.

Funder

Health Research Board

Publisher

Centre For Disability Law And Policy, University of Galway

Rights

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IE

cbn

Collections

School of Law (Scholarly Articles)