COVID-19 underscores the important role of Clinical Ethics Committees in Africa.
BMC Med Ethics
; 22(1): 131, 2021 09 25.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1438271
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified pre-existing challenges in healthcare in Africa. Long-standing health inequities, embedded in the continent over centuries, have been laid bare and have raised complex ethical dilemmas. While there are very few clinical ethics committees (CECs) in Africa, the demand for such services exists and has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The views of African healthcare professionals or bioethicists on the role of CECs in Africa have not been explored or documented previously. In this study, we aim to explore such perspectives, as well as the challenges preventing the establishment of CECs in Africa.METHODS:
Twenty healthcare professionals and bioethicists from Africa participated in this qualitative study that utilized in-depth semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. Themes were identified through thematic analysis of interviews and open-ended responses.RESULTS:
Kenya and South Africa are the only countries on the continent with formal established CECs. The following themes emerged from this qualitative study (1) Lack of formal CECs and resolution of ethical dilemmas; (2) Role of CECs during COVID-19; (3) Ethical dilemmas presented to CECs pre-COVID-19; (4) Lack of awareness of CECs; (5) Lack of qualified bioethicists or clinical ethicists; (6) Limited resources to establish CECs; (7) Creating interest in CECs and networking.CONCLUSIONS:
This study illustrates the importance of clinical ethics education among African HCPs and bioethicists, more so now when COVID-19 has posed a host of clinical and ethical challenges to public and private healthcare systems. The challenges and barriers identified will inform the establishment of CECs or clinical ethics consultation services (CESs) in the region. The study results have triggered an idea for the creation of a network of African CECs.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ethics Committees, Clinical
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Med Ethics
Journal subject:
Ethics
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12910-021-00696-2
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