COVID‑19 underscores the important role of clinical ethics committees in Africa
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
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.
Description
CITATION: Moodley, K., et al. 2021. COVID‑19 underscores the important role of Clinical Ethics Committees in Africa. BMC Medical Ethics, 22:131, doi:10.1186/s12910-021-00696-2.
The original publication is available at https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
The original publication is available at https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
Keywords
Medical ethics committees -- Africa, Bioethicists -- Attitudes -- Africa, Medical personnel -- Attitudes -- Africa, Health services accessibility -- Africa, COVID-19 (Disease) -- Social aspects
Citation
Moodley, K., et al. 2021. COVID‑19 underscores the important role of Clinical Ethics Committees in Africa. BMC Medical Ethics, 22:131, doi:10.1186/s12910-021-00696-2