The ethical concerns and unintended consequences associated with the precautionary measures espoused by IPC guidance has come to the fore in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the tension between IPC measures and the need for their compassionate implementation. Evidence on the impact of compassion on improved patient outcomes, suggests that empathy-driven care enhances treatment effectiveness, fosters a supportive environment, and strengthens primary healthcare systems. The visitor restrictions imposed across health care settings resulted in prolonged isolation, emotional distress, and ethical dilemmas for patients, families, and healthcare providers. Recent discourse suggests a need to move away from a pure focus on the biomedical model towards a more person-centred approach to IPC, emphasizing the need to balance safety with psychosocial well-being, including the need for humane IPC policies and their implementation. Seven practice, policy, and research considerations are presented to address these issues and novel frameworks such as the Ethical Infection Prevention and Control Decision-Making Framework that aim to guide practitioners in making balanced, ethical decisions across various healthcare settings.