The Ethics of Place: Differences in Ethical Perspectives Among Urban, Suburban, and Rural Physicians in Georgia

Moral distress experienced by community service providers of home health and social care in Ontario, Canada

“…Little is known how geography may impact the experience of moral distress across health and social care professionals. Previous work by both Siemens (2016) and Wickersham and Sumner (2015) has indicated that rural healthcare providers have a greater scope of role and often practice within a web of interconnected relationships, factors which could add another, unique dimension to the moral distress experience. Our findings suggest a possible difference in the prevalence and experience of moral distress between rural and small population based CSPs and their urban counterparts.…”

“…And though much of the early work on moral distress was narrowly focused on the nursing profession (Jameton, 1984), moral distress is neither restricted to nurses nor hospital settings. Researchers have begun to explore moral distress in other contexts, such as community‐based healthcare (Astbury et al., 2015; Brazil et al., 2010; McGregor, 2011; Sunderland et al., 2015), long‐term care (Edwards et al., 2013; Greason, 2020; Preshaw et al., 2015), and in specific geographies (rural versus urban) (Siemens, 2016; Whitten, 2019; Wickersham & Sumner, 2015).…”

“…Researchers have begun to explore moral distress in other contexts, such as community-based healthcare (Astbury et al, 2015;Brazil et al, 2010;McGregor, 2011;Sunderland et al, 2015), long-term care (Edwards et al, 2013;Greason, 2020;Preshaw et al, 2015), and in specific geographies (rural versus urban) (Siemens, 2016;Whitten, 2019;Wickersham & Sumner, 2015).…”

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

“…Among the different ethical issues experienced by rural physicians is also tolerating inadequate fellow physicians; as due to the close-knit small community at times it is a better prospect than having no doctor at all. 10 A research study comprising of Indonesian and Dutch medical students revealed that problems such as euthanasia, privacy, and confidentiality did not cause ethical issues in Indonesia where euthanasia was illegal but the Dutch encountered ethical issues when faced with these situations. 11 Another research regarding ethical problems present in rural areas of Indonesia revealed that scarce healthcare facilities and limitations to healthcare availability gave rise to various ethical issues concerning lack of privacy, consent, and limited facilities and resources.…”

“…18 Pakistan is a predominantly Muslim country; religion along with family and community values govern how life is lived leading to divergence in ethical issues being faced by practitioners in rural practice. 10 Rural communities believe in ghosts, use taweez, or go to shrines for fulfillment of their healthcare needs. There are people who are very superstitious and even offer money and food to their spiritual leaders if their wishes are fulfilled or the disease is cured.…”