Need to revisit ethics training of doctors for effectively serving rural communities; a review

Abstract

<p>The dawn of globalization has produced the need for doctors who are prepared to facilitate communities regardless of their ethical constraints. Medical ethics is an integral component of undergraduate training and has gradually affirmed that different ethical issues are encountered by doctors within rural settings and urban areas. There is a strong need to acknowledge that ethics varies as we move not only from urban or rural settings, but also as we move across different regions, countries, and continents. There have been various studies conducted in different regions of the world to highlight the presence of different ethical issues arising in various settings. This review aims to highlight common ethical issues faced by general practitioners in rural settings as various regions have different customs which influence their decision-making skills and the patients’ relationship with their practitioner. This gives rise to the necessary task of providing training for doctors so that they are better equipped to handle these challenging scenarios in primary health care domains in order to facilitate optimal health care for patients from diverse backgrounds in different settings ethically and professionally.</p>