Managing ethical challenges around misattributed parentage within the clinical context: Insights from an african moral theory

Abstract

This study argues the thesis that a set of guidelines -firmly rooted in a particular interpretation of African moral theory, specifically, Ubuntu - will do a better job than current medical ethics frameworks, in addressing ethical challenges around misattributed parentage within the clinical context. Incidental information such as information with significant personal/health implications raises unique challenges for medical professionals. For example, withholding information of misattributed paternity accidentally discovered in clinical interactions may be seen by a patient as a violation of his/her right-to- know. Contrarily, disclosure where a patient has not requested information - or where establishing paternity is not the purpose of clinical visit/interaction - may be taken by the patient as a violation of his/her right ʼnot-to- know’. Resolving these challenges remain a herculean task. African moral theory contains an under-emphasized value for addressing such ethical challenges around misattributed parentage in the field of transplant. I seek to contribute this knowledge; and enhance clinician-patient relationship. This study builds off three completed systematic reviews, which aimed to answer the following questions: \what are the ethical challenges regarding information health professionals face within the clinical contest?" and “what core aspects (or common themes) of Ubuntu can be identified in existing literature describing the same?" In this present study, I applied the definition of Ubuntu which captures the core aspects of the theory in ethical literature on the same, to address ethical issues around unsought information of misattributed parentage in the field of transplant.