Cultural competency and ethical behavior for collaboration in limited-resource settings: Guidelines from the Society of University Surgeons Academic Global Surgery Committee and the Association for Academic Global Surgery.

BACKGROUND: There are an increasing number of global surgery activities worldwide. With such tremendous growth, there is a potential risk for untoward interactions between high-income country members and low-middle income country members, leading to programmatic failure, poor results, and/or low impact. METHODS: Key concepts for cultural competency and ethical behavior were generated by the Academic Global Surgery Committee of the Society for University Surgeons in collaboration with the Association for Academic Global Surgery. Both societies ensured active participation from high-income countries and low-middle income countries. RESULTS: The guidelines provide a framework for cultural competency and ethical behavior for high-income country members when collaborating with low-middle income country partners by offering recommendations for: (1) preparation for work with low-middle income countries; (2) process standardization; (3) working with the local community; (4) limits of practice; (5) patient autonomy and consent; (6) trainees; (7) potential pitfalls; and (8) gray areas. CONCLUSION: The article provides an actionable framework to address potential cultural competency and ethical behavior issues in high-income country - low-middle income country global surgery collaborations.

Human rights-based approach to global surgery: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Health is a basic human right, yet surgery remains a neglected stepchild of global health. Worldwide, five billion people lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical and anesthesia care when needed. This disparity results in over 18 million preventable deaths each year and is responsible for one-third of the global burden of disease. Here, we evaluate the role of surgical care in protecting human rights and attempt to make a human rights argument for universal access to safe surgical care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A scoping review was done using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases to identify articles evaluating human rights and disparities in accessing surgical care globally. A conceptual framework is proposed to implement global surgical interventions with a human rights-based approach. RESULTS: Disparities in accessing surgical care remain prevalent around the world, including but not limited to gender inequality, socioeconomic differentiation, sexual stigmatization, racial and religious disparities, and cultural beliefs. Lack of access to surgery impedes lives in full health and economic prosperity, and thus violates human rights. Our normative framework proposes human rights principles to make surgical policy interventions more inclusive and effective. CONCLUSION: Acknowledging human rights in the provision of surgical care around the world is critical to attain and sustain the Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage. National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Planning and wider health systems strengthening require the integration of human rights principles in developing and implementing policy interventions to ensure equal and universal access to comprehensive health care services.

O acesso global e nacional ao tratamento da hemofilia: reflexões da bioética crítica sobre exclusão em saúde / Global and national access to the treatment of hemophilia: reflections from critical bioethics on health exclusion / El acceso global y nacional al tratamiento de la hemofilia: reflexiones de la bioética crítica sobre exclusión en salud

A hemofilia é uma doença rara, hereditária e caracterizada pela falta de fatores de coagulação, o que provoca sangramentos espontâneos e artropatias incapacitantes. O componente mais dispendioso em seu tratamento é a reposição do fator de coagulação. O presente ensaio examina, a partir da perspectiva da Bioética Crítica, modelo teórico baseado na articulação da Teoria Crítica com os Estudos da Colonialidade, o panorama do acesso global ao tratamento e o programa brasileiro. Demonstrou-se um quadro marcado por extremas disparidades de acesso em nível tanto global quanto nacional, cujas causas estão diretamente relacionadas com a formação histórica de um sistema-mundo baseado na dominação dos meios materiais, ideias e instituições pelos países centrais. Para seu enfrentamento, concluiu-se pela necessidade de contínuas pressões sociais, estímulo a uma produção científica e regulação tecnológica verdadeiramente comprometida com o cumprimento do direito fundamental à saúde.(AU)

Hemophilia is a rare, hereditary disease characterized by a lack of clotting factors, which causes spontaneous bleeding and disabling arthropathy. The most expensive component in its treatment is clotting factor replacement therapy. This essay examines, based on the perspective of Critical Bioethics - a theoretical model based on the articulation between Critical Theory and Coloniality Studies -, the panorama related to the global access to that treatment and the Brazilian program. A scenario marked by extreme disparities of access was found, both in the global and in the national levels, whose causes are directly related to the historical formation of a world system based on the domination of material means, ideas and institutions by central countries. To face this situation, a continuous social pressure is needed, as well as incentive to scientific production and technological regulation truly committed to the enforcement of the fundamental right to health.(AU)

La hemofilia es una enfermedad rara, hereditaria, caracterizada por la falta de factores de coagulación, lo que provoca sangrados espontáneos y artropatías discapacitantes. El componente más caro de su tratamiento es la reposición del factor de coagulación. El presente ensayo examina, a partir de la perspectiva de la Bioética Crítica, un modelo teórico basado en la articulación de la Teoría Crítica con los Estudios de la Colonialidad, el panorama del acceso global al tratamiento y el programa brasileño. Demostró ser un cuadro marcado por disparidades extremas de acceso, tanto en nivel global como nacional, cuyas causas están directamente relacionadas con la formación histórica de un sistema de mundo basado en la dominación de los medios materiales, ideas e instituciones por los países centrales. La conclusión para enfrentarlo fue la necesidad de continuas presiones sociales y estímulo a una producción científica y regulación tecnológica verdaderamente comprometidas con el cumplimiento del derecho fundamental a la salud.(AU)

Ethics in Global Pediatric Surgery: Existing Dilemmas and Emerging Challenges.

The rapid growth of global pediatric surgery beyond direct care delivery into research, education, and advocacy necessitates re-evaluation of the traditional ethical paradigms which have governed our partnerships in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Within this paper, we consider current and emerging ethical challenges and discuss principles to consider in order to promote autonomous systems for pediatric surgical care in LMIC.

Global Surgery Symposium.

This article describes the Global Surgery Symposium held within the 65th British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS) Annual Congress in 2018. Global surgery is a rapidly expanding and developing field and is of particular importance in paediatrics since children account for up to 50% of the population in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is estimated that up to a third of childhood deaths in LMICs are the result of a surgical condition, and congenital anomalies have risen to become the 5th leading cause of death in children less than 5-years of age globally. Trainees in high-income countries (HICs) are increasingly interested in global surgery engagement through clinical placements, research, or education, or a combination of these. There is considerable controversy regarding the ethics, practicalities, usefulness, safety, and sustainability of these initiatives. In addition, there is debate as to whether such placements should occur within the paediatric surgery training pathway. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 (Expert Opinion).

Distributive Justice: An Ethical Priority in Global Palliative Care.

Providing care to cancer patients in resource-poor settings often demands complex trade-offs regarding resource allocation. It is estimated that over 60% of all cancer deaths worldwide occur in low- and middle-income countries, where channels to care and appropriate symptom management interventions are overstressed or obsolete. Concepts of distributive justice underlie much of global health policy. As appetites for expanding global palliative care services increase, so do questions of fair and culturally appropriate distribution. The ethical principle of distributive justice underpins questions of resource allocation at a fundamental level. One of the most challenging concepts for health care workers immersing in cross-cultural contexts is the idea that ethics are somewhat malleable; they shape and are shaped by the unique sociopolitical, economic, intracultural, and power dynamics of a particular setting. In this article, we use the case of a young woman diagnosed with terminal cancer in an underserved community in rural Uganda to illustrate the conflicting concepts of fairness, which dictate distribution of scarce resources in low- and middle-income countries. Notions of distributive justice vary across cultural, societal, and even individual norms, with some definitions allowing for discrimination based on merit or need. Resource allocation in the absence of cultural humility or a genuine willingness to understand decision-making priorities in a given culture can contribute to inequity and may have harmful consequences.

An academic career in global surgery: a position paper from the Society of University Surgeons Committee on Academic Global Surgery.

In recent years, as the high burden of surgical disease and poor access to surgical care in low- and middle-income countries have gained recognition as major public health problems, interest in global health has surged among surgical trainees and faculty. Traditionally, clinical volunteerism was at the forefront of the high-income country response to the significant burden of surgical disease in low- and middle-income countries. However, sustainable strategies for providing surgical care in low- and middle-income countries increasingly depend on bilateral clinical, research, and education collaborations to ensure effective resource allocation and contextual relevance. Academic global surgery creates avenues for interested surgeons to combine scholarship and education with their clinical global surgery passions through incorporation of basic/translational, education, clinical outcomes, or health services research with global surgery. Training in global health, either within residency or through advanced degrees, can provide the necessary skills to develop and sustain such initiatives. We further propose that creating cross-continental, bidirectional collaborations can maximize funding opportunities. Academic institutions are uniquely positioned to lead longitudinal and, importantly, sustainable global surgery efforts. However, for the individual global surgeon, the career path forward may be unclear. This paper reviews the development of academic global surgery, delineates the framework and factors critical to training global surgeons, and proposes models for establishing an academic career in this field. Overall, with determination, the academic global surgeon will not only carve out a niche of expertise but will define this critical field for future generations.

Global Mental Health: challenges for a global ethics / Salud Mental Global: retos para una ética global / Saúde Mental Global: desafios para uma ética global

This paper aims at presenting a perspective on a global ethics useful for conducting and evaluating research on global mental health. It includes the proposal of expanding the scope of "global" to include different aspects of cultural diversity and a plea for a "differential ethics" approach that accepts diversity and sociocultural determinants of health. The contention is advanced that ethics is a linguistic justification of moral norms based on customs, beliefs, and traditions. Besides its foundation on rational or religious beliefs, ethics should also be conceived of as a way of attaining human fulfillment of interests and expectations in the context of different forms of humanity.

Este texto se propone presentar una perspectiva sobre una ética global útil para conducir y evaluar investigaciones sobre salud mental global. Incluye la propuesta de expandir el significado de "global" para incluir la diversidad cultural y la demanda por una "ética diferencial" que acepte la diversidad y considere los determinantes socioculturales de la salud. Se sugiere que la ética constituye una justificación lingüística de las normas morales basadas en costumbres, creencias y tradiciones. Además de fundarse en convicciones religiosas o racionales, la ética también debe concebirse como una forma de alcanzar plenitud humana en intereses y expectativas en el contexto de diversas formas de humanidad.

Este texto se propõe apresentar uma perspectiva sobre uma ética global útil para conduzir e avaliar pesquisas sobre saúde mental global. Inclui a proposta de expandir o significado de "global" para incluir a diversidade cultural e a demanda por uma "ética diferenciada" que aceite a diversidade e considere as determinantes socioculturais da saúde. É sugerido que a ética constitui uma justificação linguística das normas morais baseadas em costumes, crenças e tradições. Além de fundamentar-se em convicções religiosas ou racionais, a ética também deve ser concebida como uma forma de alcançar a plenitude humana em interesses e expectativas no contexto de diversas formas de humanidade.

Asbestos: Socio-legal and Scientific Controversies and Unsound Science in the Context of the Worldwide Asbestos Tragedy - Lessons to be Learned.

Eight to fifteen per cent of lung cancer cases and nearly all mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos. Problems in compensation issues ensue from strict legal requirements for eligibility and regulations of the statutory accident insurance institution pertaining to eligibility for occupational disease benefits. The latter include the unscientific requirement for set numbers of asbestos bodies or fibers to be found in lung tissue in order to "prove" disease causation if lung specimen are available. Although the validity of such evidence has been discredited by independent scientists, it is still used as evidence by an influential US pathology department. Frequently, epidemiological evidence regarding causal relationships and exposure histories is also often being ignored by insurance-affiliated medical experts.Similar misleading arguments are currently being used in newly industrialized countries where white asbestos - which is carcinogenic and fibrogenic like other asbestos types - is efficiently promoted as being less harmful. As a result, asbestos use is increasing in some of these countries. Behind the worldwide asbestos tragedy, a well-designed strategy orchestrated by certain transnational or multinational industrial interest groups can be perceived.Beyond the asbestos tragedy their covert plan is motivated by economic interests and discounts the ensuing damage to health and the impact of the diseases they create on public health systems.

[Asbestos: Social Legal and Scientific Controversies and Unsound Science in the Context with the Worldwide Asbestos Tragedy - Lessions to be Learned]. / Sozialjuristische und wissenschaftliche Kontroversen sowie Fehlinterpretationen im Kontext mit der weltweiten Asbest-Tragödie - Was ist daraus zu lernen?

8 to 15% of lung cancer cases and nearly all mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos. Problems in compensation issues refer to high legal as well as insurance barriers in attesting the occupational diseases. Claiming of certain numbers of asbestos bodies or fibers in lung tissue is of special relevance in substantiating legal medical cases. Such evidence, which is disproved by a sound science, is also used by an influential US pathology department. Frequently, also epidemiological evidence with its causal relationships and exposure histories are ignored. Similar misleading arguments are currently found in industrializing countries where white asbestos which is carcinogenic and fibrogenic like other asbestos types, is efficiently promoted as less harm. As a result, the asbestos consumption is increasing in some of these countries. Beyond the worldwide asbestos tragedy a well-designed strategy of certain transnational or global acting industrial interest groups can be recognized. Their plan, hidden from the public eyes, follows rigorously sole economic interests, while leaving the resulting health harm to the public health systems.

Essay: leaky pipes.

In the face of great tragedy, the desire to pinpoint blame can be instinctual as a remedy for alleviating one's conscience in a system that causes great suffering. However, to remedy the system that causes such suffering requires a critical analysis of the factors that perpetuate inequitable power structures. This is the story of a journey that broadened my lens of analysis with which to critically evaluate the harmful structural and social determinants magnified in resource-limited settings.

Ethics in global surgery.

Global surgery, while historically a small niche, is becoming a larger part of the global health enterprise. This article discusses the burden of global surgery, emphasizing the importance of addressing surgical needs in low- and middle-income countries. It describes the barriers to surgical care in the developing world, the ethical challenges that these barriers create, and strategies to overcome these barriers. It emphasizes the crucial role of preparation for global surgical interventions as a way to maximize benefits as well as minimize harms and ethical challenges. It ends with the cautionary statement that preparation does not eliminate ethical problems, so surgical volunteers must be prepared not only for the technical challenges of global surgery but also for the ethical challenges.

Bioética global na perspectiva da bioética crítica / Bioética global desde la perspectiva de la bioética crítica / Global bioethics from the perspective of critical bioethics

Desde os anos 1990 a bioética tem se aproximado cada vez mais das discussões internacionais relacionadas à saúde e às ciências da vida, o que levou alguns autores a referir-se à "bioética global". O presente artigo analisa este conceito tal como elaborado nas perspectivas de três formulações teóricas da bioética norte-americana: a de Van Rensselaer Potter, a de Tristam Engelhardt e a de Beauchamp e Childress. Ao balancear as potencialidades e as insuficiências das abordagens destes autores, propõe a "bioética crítica" como alternativa teórica melhor capacitada para enfrentar os temas globais da bioética a partir da perspectiva histórica dos países do Sul global...

Desde la década de 1990 la bioética se ha acercado cada vez más a los debates relacionados con las ciencias de la vida y la salud internacional, lo que llevó a algunos autores a referirse a la "bioética global". En este artículo se examina este concepto desarrollado en las perspectivas teóricas de tres formulaciones de la bioética estadunidense: Van Rensselaer Potter, Tristram Engelhardt y Beauchamp y Childress. Al evaluar las fortalezas y debilidades de los enfoques de estos autores, propone la "bioética crítica" como una alternativa teórica más cualificada para hacer frente a los problemas mundiales de la bioética desde la perspectiva histórica de los países del Sur global...

Since the 1990s bioethics has increasingly approached the discussions related to international health and life sciences, which led some authors to refer to the "global bioethics". This article examines this concept as elaborated in the theoretical perspectives of three formulations of North American bioethics: Van Rensselaer Potter, the Tristram Engelhardt, and Beauchamp and Childress. By balancing the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches of these authors, it is proposed the "critical bioethics" as the best qualified alternative theoretical to address the global issues of bioethics from the historical perspective of the countries of the Global South...

Designing an ethics curriculum to support global health experiences in surgery.

BACKGROUND: The field of global health is rapidly expanding in many medical centers across the US. As a result, medical students have increasing opportunities to incorporate global health experiences (GHEs) into their medical education. Ethics is a critical component of global health curricula, yet little literature exists to direct the further development of didactic training. Therefore, we sought to define ethical encounters experienced by medical students participating in short-term surgical GHEs and create a framework for the design of ethics curriculum specific to global surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Emory University Departments of Surgery, Urology, and Anesthesia, in partnership with the non-profit organization Project Medishare, have taken annual humanitarian surgical trips to Hinche, Haiti. All medical students returning from the trips in 2011 and 2012 received a 35-question survey to assess demographic data, extent of prior ethics education, frequency of exposure and situational confidence to ethical subject matter, as well as ethical conflicts involved in surgical GHEs. The same comparative data were also collected for domestic clinical clerkships. RESULTS: Seventeen out of 21 medical students completed the survey. Nearly all (88.3%) students had previous formal ethics training as an undergraduate or in medical school. Ethical issues were commonly encountered during domestic clinical encounters and volunteerism. However, students reported enhanced exposure to the professional obligation of surgeons (P = 0.025) and truth-telling/surgeon-patient relationships (P = 0.044) during surgical volunteerism. Despite increased exposure, situational confidence did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Ethical issues are commonly confronted during GHEs in surgery and differ from domestic clinical encounters. Healthcare ethics curriculum should be designed to meet the needs of medical students involved in global health.

The global role of kidney transplantation.

World Kidney Day on 8 March 2012 provides a chance to reflect on the success of kidney transplantation as a therapy for end-stage kidney disease that surpasses dialysis treatments both for the quality and quantity of life that it provides and for its cost-effectiveness. Anything that is both cheaper and better, but is not actually the dominant therapy, must have other drawbacks that prevent replacement of all dialysis treatment by transplantation. The barriers to universal transplantation as the therapy for end-stage kidney disease include the economic limitations which in some countries place transplantation, appropriately, at a lower priority than public health fundamentals such as clean water, sanitation, and vaccination. Even in high-income countries, the technical challenges of surgery and the consequences of immunosuppression restrict the number of suitable recipients, but the major finite restrictions on kidney transplantation rates are the shortage of donated organs and the limited medical, surgical, and nursing workforces with the required expertise. These problems have solutions which involve the full range of societal, professional, governmental, and political environments. World Kidney Day is a call to deliver transplantation therapy to the one million people a year who have a right to benefit.