The humanitarian and outreach ethics charter in ENT. Ethics at the heart of missions

Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2021 Jan;138(1):41-44. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2020.08.002. Epub 2020 Aug 15.

Abstract

Humanitarian action, in the broad sense, including global outreach missions by ENT physicians, has been effective for many years. These volunteer missions have not had any specific regulatory framework, be it medical, social or above all ethical. The testimony of ENT physicians in certain "recipient" countries, in particular during the 2017 Paris Congress of the International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (IFOS), revealed the importance of adequate coordination between "provider" and "recipient" teams. Several ethical reports have been made, but few specifically focused on ENT outreach. The present review is based on feedback from several missions given to the French Society of OtoRhinoLaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SFORL) and IFOS, and on a review of the literature. A specific charter of global outreach and humanitarian missions in ENT has been drawn up. This review is essential for optimizing the sharing of knowledge and training in otorhinolaryngology across the world while respecting mandatory sociocultural and ethical rules.

Keywords: Global outreach; Humanitarian action; Humanitarian charter; IFOS; Medical ethics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Otolaryngology*
  • Paris