Previous Page

Audio Recording

Video Recording

Disasters often overwhelm local and, sometimes, national capacity to respond effectively. The disaster may damage or destroy local healthcare infrastructure. Emergency humanitarian aid often comes from international sources, including many Christian organisations. While disasters are not new, their increased frequency and destructiveness has given them heightened attention from international agencies, both Christian and secular. Recognition is being given to the debilitating effects of moral distress within disaster responders. This has been recognised as a leading cause of stress while in the field, and a major reason why responders often do not return to the field. Disaster responders arrive intending to focus on aiding survivors, but are quickly confronted with many ethical dilemmas. Which patients should be treated first, based on what criteria? How are short-term medical benefits balanced against long-term disability (as when amputation may severely impair patients’ quality of life and livelihoods)? How far outside one’s professional scope of practice should one be willing to work because of the level of need? How should conflicts between professionals from different cultures be addressed? How do responders justify the resources they consume while local survivors are provided little or nothing? How are cultural differences addressed when local customs conflict with Western or Christian ethics (as with how women are viewed)? What if the goals of one’s sending organisation differ from the needs seen on the ground? How explicitly should Christian responders discuss their faith in Christ with patients and responders of different religions? This workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss various issues in disaster bioethics. Particular attention will be given to the ethical issues confronting Christian responders and medical missionaries. Attention will also be given to the resources available to Christians that allow their faith to help them with the moral dilemmas confronted in the field. The types of training materials that could help prepare disaster responders will be discussed, with participants encouraged to share resources or experiences that have helped them.

Keywords:
Disaster bioethics, Disaster bioethics; Emergency care; Triage decisions; Resource allocation; Evidence base; Ddisaster response