“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi
Biometrics is the science of establishing the identity of an individual based on their physical attributes. Ethical concerns surrounding the appropriate use of biometrics have been raised, especially in resource-poor settings. A qualitative investigation was conducted to explore biometrics clients (...
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doaj-b8ae0a40cb2644e28fe297f39d98eb8c2020-12-17T12:50:43ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Bioethics1128-74621591-73982020-01-01311678010.1080/11287462.2020.17730631773063“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in MalawiMphatso Mwapasa0Kate Gooding1Moses Kumwenda2Marriott Nliwasa3Kruger Kaswaswa4Rodrick Sambakunsi5Michael Parker6Susan Bull7Nicola Desmond8College of Medicine, University of MalawiMalawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MLW)College of Medicine, University of MalawiCollege of Medicine, University of MalawiCollege of Medicine, University of MalawiMalawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MLW)The Ethox Centre, University of OxfordThe Ethox Centre, University of OxfordMalawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MLW)Biometrics is the science of establishing the identity of an individual based on their physical attributes. Ethical concerns surrounding the appropriate use of biometrics have been raised, especially in resource-poor settings. A qualitative investigation was conducted to explore biometrics clients (n = 14), implementers (n = 12) and policy makers as well as bioethicists (n = 4) perceptions of the ethical aspects of implementing biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi. Informed use, privacy and confidentiality as well as perceptions of benefits and harms were identified as major issues in the application of biometrics. Implementation of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi poses a range of potential ethical issues and practical challenges that impact on equitable uptake. There is a need for more research to explore the benefits and harms of biometrics in practice. Improved community engagement and sensitization should be a required component of biometrics introduction in Malawi.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11287462.2020.1773063biometricsbioethicshealthcare systemmalawi |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mphatso Mwapasa Kate Gooding Moses Kumwenda Marriott Nliwasa Kruger Kaswaswa Rodrick Sambakunsi Michael Parker Susan Bull Nicola Desmond |
spellingShingle |
Mphatso Mwapasa Kate Gooding Moses Kumwenda Marriott Nliwasa Kruger Kaswaswa Rodrick Sambakunsi Michael Parker Susan Bull Nicola Desmond “Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi Global Bioethics biometrics bioethics healthcare system malawi |
author_facet |
Mphatso Mwapasa Kate Gooding Moses Kumwenda Marriott Nliwasa Kruger Kaswaswa Rodrick Sambakunsi Michael Parker Susan Bull Nicola Desmond |
author_sort |
Mphatso Mwapasa |
title |
“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi |
title_short |
“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi |
title_full |
“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi |
title_fullStr |
“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi |
title_full_unstemmed |
“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi |
title_sort |
“are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in malawi |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
series |
Global Bioethics |
issn |
1128-7462 1591-7398 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
Biometrics is the science of establishing the identity of an individual based on their physical attributes. Ethical concerns surrounding the appropriate use of biometrics have been raised, especially in resource-poor settings. A qualitative investigation was conducted to explore biometrics clients (n = 14), implementers (n = 12) and policy makers as well as bioethicists (n = 4) perceptions of the ethical aspects of implementing biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi. Informed use, privacy and confidentiality as well as perceptions of benefits and harms were identified as major issues in the application of biometrics. Implementation of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi poses a range of potential ethical issues and practical challenges that impact on equitable uptake. There is a need for more research to explore the benefits and harms of biometrics in practice. Improved community engagement and sensitization should be a required component of biometrics introduction in Malawi. |
topic |
biometrics bioethics healthcare system malawi |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11287462.2020.1773063 |
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