An examination of the moral conundrum of informed consent within the framework of African values and belief systems : a case study

Abstract

The notion of bio-medical ethics, which places a strong focus on individual autonomy when considering informed consent, is mostly inspired by western European medical and moral traditions, leaving African traditions and values out of the practice of medical ethics. This is due to the fact that African customs and values favour communitarianism above individualism. In African culture, your strong relationships with people in the community which include sharing everything, including decision-making are what define you as a human being. As a result, it is clear that when applied to the majority of Africans, the idea of individual liberty in informed consent is inapplicable. This is because African communitarian ethics focuses on the interests of the family, community and society and not the individual. Thus, there might be a conflict in the application of the western principle of medical ethics in the general population in Africa. This review paper intends to use published articles, reports, case studies, and ethical principles to explore this potential conflict.