Journals Information
Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 1(3), pp. 86 - 96
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2013.010307
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Pilot Surveys of Ethics and Short-Term Medical Mission Work: University of Wyoming Agua Salada Clinic, Honduras
Juanita L Bonner1, Jessica Hopper1,*, Linda Gore Martin1, Penelope Caldwell2
1 College of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, 82071, Wyoming, United States
2 College of Health Sciences Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, University of Wyoming, Laramie, 82071, Wyoming, United States
ABSTRACT
This research, performed in Agua Salada, Honduras, was done to help identify ethical issues perceived by the recipients of short-term medical missions and to examine how these issues differ between volunteers and patients. Using the four principles of medical ethics (non-maleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and justice) as a guide, patient-participants and brigade volunteers were surveyed using open-ended questions on the ethical aspects of taking western medicine to an underdeveloped region. Both the patient-participants (n=58) and brigade volunteers (n=12) agreed that medical missions should come to Honduras. Interestingly, with questions related to the benefit of medical mission work, volunteers were more likely to report benefit to themselves (60.3%) than to patients. In conclusion, patients and volunteers primarily share common perceptions of beneficence and justice while volunteers are more likely to be concerned with non-maleficence and undervalue indicators of autonomy.
KEYWORDS
Medical Ethics, International Medical Missions, Short-term Medical Missions, Honduras, Brigade Volunteers, Pilot Surveys, University of Wyoming, Shoulder to Shoulder
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Juanita L Bonner , Jessica Hopper , Linda Gore Martin , Penelope Caldwell , "Pilot Surveys of Ethics and Short-Term Medical Mission Work: University of Wyoming Agua Salada Clinic, Honduras," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 86 - 96, 2013. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2013.010307.
(b). APA Format:
Juanita L Bonner , Jessica Hopper , Linda Gore Martin , Penelope Caldwell (2013). Pilot Surveys of Ethics and Short-Term Medical Mission Work: University of Wyoming Agua Salada Clinic, Honduras. Universal Journal of Public Health, 1(3), 86 - 96. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2013.010307.