Medical Missions to Developing Countries (Pro)

Abstract

AbstractAccess to surgical care is disparate across the world. Medical mission trips, or short-term experiences in global health (STEGH), send medical professionals from high-income countries (HIC) to low- and middle- income countries (LMIC) to provide medical or surgical care. We will explore the “pro” aspect of surgical missions to LMIC through an ethical lens guided by the four principles of clinical ethics: beneficence, justice, nonmaleficence, and autonomy. Surgery is particularly amenable to STEGH because it can provide a long-term intervention in a single time-point, as shown in obstetric fistula and cleft lip programs. However, for surgical missions to be successful, surgeons must know their limitations, prioritize community needs, and plan for local post-operative patient care. They must work in partnership with local community and avoid taking medical professionals away from LMIC. Individual patients must understand the risks, benefits, and limitations of surgery. Additionally, while many students and trainees benefit from participating in STEGHs, they must not overstep their level of training. Based on these ethical criteria and literature search, we propose considerations for ethical STEGH programs, and acknowledge that greater contributors to health, such as poverty, education, and nutrition, must be addressed to improve health throughout the world.KeywordsShort term global surgeryEthicsMedical missionsShort-term experiences in global health (STEGH)Obstetric fistula medical missionsCleft palate medical missions