Ethics of Surgical Training in Developing Countries

Excerpt

I read the article by Ramsey and Weijer [1] with interest because I sit on the other side of the “travelling resident” spectrum, that of supervisor at a host institution in the “Third World.” Our institution follows exactly the kind of recommendations for acceptance of such residents that the authors recommend in their concluding points. This letter, therefore, is to show wholehearted support for their sentiments. This is especially true with respect to adequate supervision and guidance, which we provide, yet allowing the elective residents the opportunity to undertake the procedures themselves under such guidance as would be expected of our own trainees. Indeed, over and above any ethical issues, it is a stressful time of adjustment for many foreign doctors in a developing-world environment, where less reliance is placed upon specialized investigations and more emphasis is on clinical patient care. In addition, there may be many language and cultural barriers to contend with in a new country. …