Purpose: Changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the organisation of medical care and medical social work provided to patients as part of end-of-life care, make it necessary to re-evaluate the ethical and legal obligations for the protection of this particularly vulnerable groups. Design/Methodology/Approach: This article draws attention to palliative care, a specific form of medical care, and in particular to end-of-life care. Changes in medical practice and medical social work caused by the pandemic, while epidemiologically justified, in many cases lead to violations of the selected European and global standards of care, including end-of-life care. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated, also in Europe, how difficult it is to meet social, medical, and legal standards of care for terminal patients while limiting the possibility of virus transmission. Findings: Patients and their relatives suffer great mental discomfort caused by violations of certain standards of care resulting from an elevated sanitary regime in medical facilities. Such violations can be regarded as violations of patients' rights and of human rights in broader terms. Practical implications: We recommend standardising and popularising the following three parallel solutions to facilitate their funding: 1/ preparing and implementing technical infrastructure to make possible for patients to meet in person with their family and relatives, while preventing physical contact; 2/ extending the use of video chat technologies in hospitals and hospices; 3/ implementing educational activities addressed to patients, their families, and medical staff. These standards positively influence patients' quality of life and, at the same time, make it possible to meet the ethical and legal requirements of medical care. Originality/value: This article included in our depth legal and axiological analyses, and will contribute to the overall strengthening of the value-based health policy of vulnerable groups as the implementation of HRA and human security framework for physician and social workers (caregivers) developed in response to the current pandemic crisis are now becoming an urgent global need.

No abstract

Purpose: It is emphasised that the principle of the free movement of persons and services, resulting in the blurring of borders between countries, and expansive growth in migration, have many far-reaching consequences not only in terms of economic development but also as regards the human rights. The purpose of this article is to present the issue of cross-border access to health care as the determinant of sustainable development policy. Design/Methodology/Approach: In this article, we take note that sustainable development is a concept which focuses on the quality of life of a human being for whom health is a value of fundamental importance. The desired state of affairs in this respect can be achieved through the proper management of five categories of capital, natural, economic, human, social, and capital integrating other types of capital. Findings: The issue of proper management of the individual types of capital and the redistribution of legally protected goods related to access to health care will become increasingly important since the whole axiology of EU policies based on the principles of free movement of persons and services must be taken into account to ensure access to health care. Practical implications:The implementation of Cross-Border Directive 2011/24/EU requires taking into the quality of such services, the appropriate standard of health care, and equal rights of every patient and respect for such rights. Originality/value: The article is based on a legal analysis indicating the formal and interpretative weaknesses related to the implementation of the Cross-Border Directive. A correct analysis of the Directive in question may contribute to the development of an appropriate health policy model based on the principles of freedom to provide services. It should also take into consideration the call for efficient allocation of public funds in health care.

Philosophical trends referring to the concept of person are characterized by a certain dissonance. The presented article makes an attempt at answering the question about the reality of person. The personal perspective adopted by the author, is a kind of novelty, thus showing that it is impossible to make a specific reflection on the existence of man or his nature without proper reflection on the category of person. This analysis, presented in the spirit of personalism, puts the person in the center, showing its wealth and antinomies. Thus, it attempts to indicate the basic personalist categories such as dignity, freedom, sanctity, etc. Being a person means that we ought to treat everyone as having their unconditional, transcendental value.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to demonstrate a new model of interactive governance as an innovative tool in health care management in crisis situations. Project/Methodology/Approach: The analysis of the new model of interactive governance in the context of health care is based, among other things, on a descriptive model and certain elements of economic analysis of law, expressed in the pursuit of optimal efficiency from legal and social points of view. Findings: It was determined that there exists a correlation between health care and the public administration system. These interconnections comprise various elements reflecting a specific whole, which is relatively permanent and discernible among other parts of social reality. Those elements give rise to a specific network of various interconnections: legal, financial, economic, and trade. This results in a new model of governance based on a multi-level partnership of all public and non-public entities participating in governance. Practical implications: The presented results are important for all public authorities since they facilitate a more effective change design in the field of management related to health care. This is especially important in respect of organising and administering legally protected goods in the health care system, which should successfully protect public health and the health of individual patients in each state. Originality/value: This article presents the possible directions for change in health care management, which can contribute to improved effectiveness of activities undertaken by public authorities and the implementation of effective administration.