Category: COMMENTS
Medico-legal autopsies after sunset: Ethical issues
From the British era, regular medico-legal autopsies have never been done in India after sunset, except for those specially permitted by the law enforcement agencies. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, issued a notification on November 15, 2021, regarding the “Conduct...
Learning to switch gears — Steering palliative care…
Emergency care is largely seen as synonymous with resuscitation and saving lives. In most of the developing world where Emergency Medicine (EM) is still evolving, the concept of EM palliative care is alien. Provision of palliative care in such settings poses its own challenges in terms of knowled...
On conducting a study among institutionalised adolescents in…
We report the dilemmas faced by the investigators while conducting a study on the social and environmental factors for protection of the mental health of adolescents placed under State protection in Kerala, India. The proposal received counsel and directives from the Integrated Child Protection S...
Ethics of the use of dead human bodies…
The study of the human anatomy predominantly requires the use of remains of the dead. Unclaimed bodies are easily available in India; however, there is a lack of clear ethical guidelines governing their transport and exchange. We raise pertinent questions about the ethical implications of using u...
Abuse with impunity in sports: Some reflections
With the conviction of a US gymnastics coach on criminal sexual conduct and other charges, our attention is inevitably drawn to the sporting world in India. The case points to the imperative need for regulations, mandates and ethical codes to protect athletes, especially elite performers under pr...
Financial toxicity and dialysis: Autonomy and truth-telling in…
From an ethical perspective, resource limitations provide a challenge for healthcare providers. Handling disclosure of the financial details of treatment options in a way that empowers patients, even in the face of extreme poverty, requires careful consideration of the personal preferences and mo...
Intersex/Differences of sex development: Human rights at the…
Intersex people are viewed from the medicalised lens of having a “disorder” of sex development rather than a difference in sex development. This inherent indifference to diversity is also visible in LGBTQIA+ advocacy, as they were initially excluded from the Yogyakarta Principles promoting the hu...
The “Dravidian model”: egalitarianism and healthcare reform
Throughout the post-independence period, the state of Tamil Nadu has consistently performed better than most other states in several major healthcare indicators, including infant mortality rate and total fertility rate. At the same time, it has received praise for the deep penetration and robust ...
Need for comprehensive language with respect to sexual…
In spite of the Supreme Court’s recognition of transgender and LGBTQIA+ rights, there has been a negligent and insensitive attitude in India to the question of rendering respect to individuals of all sexual and gender identities. No framework for ensuring better protection from societal discrimin...
Public health and Christian theism in Africa: An…
Religious beliefs may significantly impact the effectiveness of health policies. In this article, I analyse how Christian theistic beliefs about evil and suffering, in connection with belief in the afterlife, have unreasonable ethical implications in the context of African epistemologies. Further...
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