Ethical considerations: pediatric short-term medical missions in developing countries

Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing
Published online: 15 Oct 2015
Ethical considerations: pediatric short-term medical missions in developing countries
John S. Murray PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, CS, FAAN
DOI:10.3109/01460862.2015.1088595
Abstract
For many years pediatric healthcare experts have debated how much benefit was derived by host nations from the well intentioned efforts of Pediatric Short-Term Medical Missions (STMMs). Most of the literature on STMMs, while limited, has focused on frameworks for the delivery of care. Today the focus of these endeavors is on the ethical implications. The purpose of this article is to describe how the focus of STMMs has changed over the past 15 years from delivery of care frameworks to ethical considerations.