Case Studies

These case studies explore diverse topics in humanitarian aid ethics and practice, offering real-world scenarios to help students, researchers, and practitioners navigate and reflect on the ethical dimensions of delivering aid. Designed to spark critical thinking and discussion, they provide practical entry points for examining the dilemmas, trade-offs, and values that shape humanitarian action.

Balancing Priorities in a Medical Emergency

Conflicting Priorities during a Public Health Emergency

Co-opting of Aid Organizations

Coping with Outbreaks of Disease with Limited Resources

Disclosure of an HIV/AIDS Diagnosis

Injections Better than Pills?

Patient Transfer During Period of Heightened Security

Patient Triage in a Low Resource Setting

Photographing Patients without Consent

Relations between Western Military Forces and NGOs

Responding to Needs Beyond One’s Experience or Training

Sterilization of a Patient without Her Consent

Tensions between Western Professional Ethics and Local Gender Norms

To Test or Not to Test?

Treatment of Patient Needs Outside of Project Mandate

Acting Beyond One’s Competency Level during International Medical Electives

Responding to the Suffering of Patients

Root Causes of Differences in Healthcare Delivery between Countries