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Medical Liability in Humanitarian Missions

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Abstract:

International volunteerism is growing amongst healthcare workers. Although there are ethical principles governing medical volunteering, errors do occur and may in fact be increased in this setting. This article discusses the various legal challenges surrounding medical volunteering. Legal frameworks governing medical volunteering are unclear and vary between legal jurisdictions. Evidence suggests that the incidence of a practitioner being held liable for medical malpractice is increasing. Despite this, the availability of malpractice insurance is limited, indicating an important gap in the support services for personnel working in the humanitarian sector. Both practitioners and management involved in medical volunteering in developing countries need to consider the legal ramifications of their work in order to be well prepared in the field.

About the author: Dr. Sharif Elgafi, BSc(Med), MB BS FACEM MIPH MICHA CCPU, is a Senior Consultant Emergency Physician in Liverpool Hospital’s Emergency Department in Sydney, Australia.