He is a specialist at the end of life: Georg Engel, head of palliative care at Stockholm's nursing home. We meet him in one of the few breaks between different crisis and planning meetings. The entire plant is now being redone. Partly for receiving Covid-19 patients and partly for other patients and residents not to be affected by the infection. Corona changes everything. Even for those who have completely different diseases.

- Before the pandemic, it was easy to give full empathy and full respect for each individual. Now we see, if resources become scarce, that every healthcare professional will be in the priority often. Should I wear the visor or not? Should I let two more relatives in, or not? Each document will have a front and a back. It creates ethical stress, says Georg Engel.

New guidelines

In order for staff to avoid making decisions on their own, they are now creating new guidelines. Those who are allowed to visit patients at the end of life are no longer the closest, but only the closest; partner or child. But in some cases, it won't work either.

- In a situation where we lack protective equipment, the protective equipment will go to the staff in the first place. Then you may not be able to say goodbye.

He emphasizes that in those cases the staff will be at the patient's side - but of course, wearing protective visors and gloves.

Few have as much experience as Georg Engel of care at the end of life. But what is now approaching is something entirely new.

- I am confident in all the preparations we have made. But I'm worried and sorry for all the suffering and death that is to come.