Abstract
Definition of the problem The German-language media describes a new trend in long-term care: the migration of persons needing such care to nursing homes abroad, especially to Thailand or East Europe. This type of migration is perceived as a controversial practice. Various articles use terms such as "export of the elderly", "gerontological colonialism" or "inhumane deportation". These terms indicate that the migration of persons in need of long-term care from so-called high income countries to low and middle income countries might be problematic from an ethical point of view. Arguments There has hardly been any academic discussion on this phenomenon. On the basis of the media output and a few scientific articles, we establish that we are dealing with an ethically relevant topic. We then systematically identify relevant ethical aspects. These can be assigned to different levels: an individual-, a societal-, and a global-ethics level. On an individual level we discuss questions of autonomy, relations with relatives, the role of culture and traditions for well-being and best practice in long-term care. On the societal level we discuss structural problems in long-term care, and social justice-related questions. On the global level we connect our topic to the ethics discussion on medical tourism, brain drain and global (health) injustice. Conclusion In this paper we offer the first, systematic list of relevant ethical issues associated with migration of persons in need of long-term care. In order to proceed with a detailed normative analysis more empirical data on the phenomenon are needed.
| Dokumententyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
|---|---|
| Fakultät: | Medizin |
| Themengebiete: | 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit |
| ISSN: | 0935-7335 |
| Sprache: | Deutsch |
| Dokumenten ID: | 50072 |
| Datum der Veröffentlichung auf Open Access LMU: | 14. Jun. 2018, 09:42 |
| Letzte Änderungen: | 04. Nov. 2020, 13:27 |
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