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Beyond Good Intentions: A Justice-Based Critique of Short-Term Medical Missions
Carlos Gomez-Virseda1, Rodrigo Lopez Barreda2
1Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Carlos Gomez-Virseda, KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.
Journal of Religion and Health
|January 23, 2026
Summary
Short-Term Medical Missions (STMMs) face ethical challenges in serving vulnerable populations. Ignatian discernment offers a structured approach to navigate these complexities, balancing competing values for better decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Global Health Ethics
- Medical Ethics
- Christian Spirituality
Background:
- Short-Term Medical Missions (STMMs) provide healthcare to underserved populations globally.
- These missions raise ethical concerns regarding effectiveness, sustainability, and potential harm to communities.
- Existing ethical frameworks have limitations in addressing STMM complexities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an interdisciplinary ethical examination of STMMs.
- To apply established ethical frameworks to STMMs.
- To propose Ignatian discernment as a complementary decision-making tool for STMM practitioners.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical-normative methodology integrating clinical experience with justice theories and Christian spirituality.
- Comprehensive literature review of academic and foundational texts.
- Application of four ethical frameworks (Utilitarianism, Contractualism, Cosmopolitanism, Catholic Social Teaching) to a composite case study.
Main Results:
- Each of the four examined ethical frameworks offers valuable insights but reveals limitations when applied to complex STMM scenarios.
- Ethical dilemmas in STMMs often involve asymmetry, urgency, and cultural differences.
- Ignatian discernment can complement existing frameworks by providing a structured practice for decision-making under uncertainty.
Conclusions:
- STMMs present significant ethical challenges that require nuanced approaches.
- Established ethical frameworks alone are insufficient for navigating the complexities of STMMs.
- Ignatian discernment offers a practical, complementary method for ethical decision-making in STMMs, promoting context-sensitive choices and engagement with local partners.
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