“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi

Mwapasa, Mphatso, Gooding, Kate ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4926-0287, Kumwenda, Moses, Nliwasa, Marriott, Kaswaswa, Kruger, Sambakunsi, Rodrick, Parker, Michael, Bull, Susan and Desmond, Nicola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2874-8569 (2020) '“Are we getting the biometric bioethics right?” – the use of biometrics within the healthcare system in Malawi'. Global Bioethics, Vol 31, Issue 1, pp. 67-80.

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WB Practice of Medicine > WB 60 Bioethics. Clinical ethics. Clinical ethics committees
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1080/11287462.2020.1773063
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	15 Jun 2020 05:44
Last Modified:	15 Jun 2020 05:44
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/14744

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