Cultural Sensitivity and Ethical Considerations

Global surgery is a burgeoning area of global health. Surgeons can engage in one-or many-of the facets of global healthcare delivery: clinical care, capacity building, education, research, etc. Working in an increasingly global community, surgeons must be aware of the richness of cultural diversity at home and around the world such that they can provide culturally sensitive care. This chapter focuses on the most common way in which surgeons engage in global surgery: surgical short-term experiences in global health (STEGHs). Surgical STEGHs pose an intricate set of ethical dilemmas. As team leaders, surgeons must understand the community they intend to serve on these trips. Further, they should confirm that everyone who joins them is prepared to deliver care in a culturally sensitive and competent manner. Finally, surgeons must consider potential ethical dilemmas that may arise before, during, and after surgical STEGHs and have strategies to navigate them.