Revisiting Relational Pandemic Ethics in Light of the COVID-19 Abortion Bans in the United States

Abstract:The experiences of working-class people and those from communities of color seeking abortions in the United States before and during COVID-19 call for feminist, relational pandemic ethics. Françoise Baylis and colleagues argue for public health ethics that emphasize relational personhood, relational autonomy, social justice, and solidarity. COVID-19 abortion bans in the United States require vigilance against powerful actors who abuse these values—particularly that of solidarity—to further their political, religious, and/or economic agendas in harmful ways. Thus, efforts to promote solidarity during a pandemic must attend to social injustice and systemic oppression and provide resources to vulnerable people.