An Introduction to Global Health Ethics

The field of global health is expanding rapidly. An increasing number of trainees are studying and working with marginalized populations, often within low and middle-income countries. Such endeavours are beset by ethical dilemmas: mitigating power differentials, addressing cultural differences in how health and illness are viewed, and obtaining individual and community consent in research. This introductory textbook supports students to understand and work through key areas of concern, assisting them in moving towards a more critical view of global health practise.

Divided into two sections covering the theory and practice of global health ethics, the text begins by looking at definitions of global health and the field’s historical context. It draws on anti-colonial and anti-racist perspectives and concepts, developing social justice and solidarity as key principles to guide students. The second part focuses on ethical challenges students may face in clinical experiences or research. Topics such as working with indigenous communities, the politics of global health governance, and the ethical challenges of advocacy are explored using a case study approach.

An Introduction to Global Health Ethics includes recommended resources and further readings, and is ideal for students from a range of disciplines – including public health, medicine, nursing, law and development studies – who are undertaking undergraduate and graduate courses in ethics or placements overseas.

Andrew D. Pinto is a family physician and Public Health and Preventive Medicine specialist in the Department of Family and Community Medicine of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. He is also a research fellow at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health in the Keenan Research Centre at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute.

Ross E. G. Upshur is the former Director of the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics and a staff physician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He is the Canada Research Chair in Primary Care Research and, at the University of Toronto, he is a Professor at the Department of Family and Community Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Adjunct Scientist at the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences, an affiliate of the Institute of the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology and a member of the Centre for Environment.