Can we do less but care – fully?

H Matisonn; J De Vries; J Hoare; B Hodkinson; S Opperman

doi:10.7196/SAJBL.2025.v18i3.3886

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Published: 2025-12-18

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2025.v18i3.3886

Keywords:

Moral distress, Patient care, Virtues

H Matisonn

EthicsLab, Department of Medicine and Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

J De Vries

EthicsLab, Department of Medicine and Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

J Hoare

Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

B Hodkinson

Division of Rheumatology. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

S Opperman

National Health Laboratory Service, South African Medical Research Council, Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

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Issue

SAJBL Vol. 18 No. 3

Section

Opinion

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Author Biography

J De Vries, EthicsLab, Department of Medicine and Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Professor of Medicine

How to Cite

Can we do less but care – fully?. (2025). South African Journal of Bioethics and Law, 18(3), e3886. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2025.v18i3.3886

References

1. Hoare J, Matisonn H. From the burden of disease to the disease of burden. S Afr J Sci 2024;120(11/12):18716. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2024/18716

2. Lewis E. Meeting the challenge of moral distress. Madison Magazine 2015;38(3):16.

https://www.jmu.edu/news/2015/09/lewis-erica-discusses-moral-distress.shtml

(accessed 15 April 2025).

3. Khaghanizadeh M, Koohi A, Ebadi A, Vahedian-Azimi A. The effect and

comparison of training in ethical decision-making through lectures and group discussions on moral reasoning, moral distress and moral sensitivity in nurses:

A clinical randomized controlled trial. BMC Medical Ethics 2023;24(1):58. https://

doi.org/10.1186/s12910-023-00938-5

4. Schafer R, Vieira M. Ethical competence as a coping resource for moral distress in nursing. Text Context Nurs 2015;24(2):563-573. https://doi.org/10.1590/0104- 07072015001032014

5. Nadaf M. 40 million deaths by 2050: Toll of drug-resistant infections to rise by 70%. Nature 2024;633(8031):747-748. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024- 03033-w

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