Refugee Attitudes Towards Patient Autonomy-Based Ethics of Informed Consent

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify refugees' attitudes concerning the autonomy-based ethics of informed consent and to determine whether these attitudes varied by gender. A quantitative methodology was adopted for this study. Questions were scored using a Likert-type scale and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 610 refugees who had migrated to Turkey from MENA and Caucasia countries. Refugees from eleven countries participated in the survey, of whom the majority were men (62.5% male versus 37.5% female). Autonomy is a fundamental principle of human rights and medical ethics. Refugees from MENA countries, where the concept of autonomy is contrary to the deeply-held traditional religious views of much of the population, in general, have a poor grasp of informed consent as a patient right. Traditional values steeped in patriarchy constitute an obstacle to women making decisions regarding their own lives in MENA and Caucasia countries. Therefore, the practice of informed consent is of critical importance in helping to reduce gender differentials in healthcare.