title: The Ethics of Medical Volunteerism.
abstract: Responding to disparities in health, thousands of health care providers volunteer annually for short-term medical service trips (MSTs) to serve communities in need as a result of environmental, geographic, historical, or sociopolitical factors. Although well intentioned, short-term MSTs have the potential to benefit and harm those involved, including participants and communities being served. The contexts, resource and time limitations, and language and cultural barriers present ethical challenges. There have been increasing requests for standardized global guidelines, transparency, and open review of MSTs and their outcomes. Principles of mission, partnership, preparation, reflection, support, sustainability, and evaluation inform and equip those engaging in medical volunteerism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, MGH Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: gstone@partners.org.
authors.forename: Geren S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, MGH Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Kristian R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D003144:Communication Barriers; D054521:Cultural Competency; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006801:Humans; D008493:Medical Missions / Q000941:ethics*; D008611:Mentors; D009042:Motivation; D012944:Social Support; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: Ethics; Medical mission; Medical volunteerism