Ethics of Empathy and Care in Post-COVID Vision Loss: The Case of Dr. Ebony Michelle Collins.

Abstract

In 2022, Dr. Ebony Michelle Collins-a scholar, author, and vision-health advocate-suffered sudden bilateral retinal detachment and blindness following a COVID-19 infection, despite no prior history of ocular disease. Her story reveals a largely overlooked consequence of the pandemic: the potential for serious neurological and ocular complications. This paper uses narrative ethics, supported by virtue ethics, to explore the personal and ethical dimensions of COVID-19-induced neurological impairment. Narrative ethics centers patient stories to humanize clinical data, while virtue ethics emphasizes empathy and compassion in care. Dr. Collins' experience underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and research into the neurological and ocular effects of COVID-19, particularly retinal conditions such as hemorrhaging, vascular occlusion, and detachment. Her case calls for an ethically grounded, patient-centered approach in both research and clinical practice to better address the long-term consequences of the pandemic.