Ethics Opinions

Differences in treatment that are not directly related to differences in individual patients’ clinical needs or preferences constitute inappropriate variations in health care. Such variations may contribute to health outcomes that are considerably worse in marginalized populations. Physicians ethically are called on to provide the same quality of care to all patients without regard to medically irrelevant personal characteristics.

Short-term global health clinical encounters provide needed care to individual patients in under-resourced settings and address global health inequities. Physicians engaging in short-term global health clinical encounters have an ethical obligation to prioritize benefits for the host community and ensure quality care while maintaining awareness for cultural differences. Sponsors of short-term global health clinical encounters should ensure the provision of resources, that team members practice within the limits of their skills, and that a mechanism for meaningful data collection is in place.