GLOBAL HEALTH ETHICS FOR STUDENTS

TLDR

Growing global health engagement by medical students from developed countries has outpaced the development of tailored ethical guidelines, highlighting the need for a new framework that addresses differences between clinical and research settings. The article targets educators responsible for preparing students for international health experiences. It reviews key ethical issues affecting students and proposes a guiding framework to help them navigate their work abroad.

Abstract

As a result of increased interest in global health, more and more medical students and trainees from the 'developed world' are working and studying in the 'developing world'. However, while opportunities to do this important work increase, there has been insufficient development of ethical guidelines for students. It is often assumed that ethics training in developed world situations is applicable to health experiences globally. However, fundamental differences in both clinical and research settings necessitate an alternative paradigm of analysis. This article is intended for teachers who are responsible for preparing students prior to such experiences. A review of major ethical issues is presented, how they pertain to students, and a framework is outlined to help guide students in their work.