*Ubuntu* ethics and moral problems in traditional bone-healing

Traditional bone-healing (TBH) remains a widespread practice for various orthopaedics anomalies in many African countries. Despite the patronage frequency of TBH by patients with orthopaedic crises, the ethical issues involved in TBH are yet to gain scholarly attention. In this article, the moral is...

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Main Authors: Cornelius Ewuoso, Ademola Kazeem Fayemi, Kiarash Aramesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Inishmore Laser Scientific Publishing Ltd 2021-04-01
Series:Journal of Global Health Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.21958
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author Cornelius Ewuoso
Ademola Kazeem Fayemi
Kiarash Aramesh
author_facet Cornelius Ewuoso
Ademola Kazeem Fayemi
Kiarash Aramesh
author_sort Cornelius Ewuoso
collection DOAJ
description Traditional bone-healing (TBH) remains a widespread practice for various orthopaedics anomalies in many African countries. Despite the patronage frequency of TBH by patients with orthopaedic crises, the ethical issues involved in TBH are yet to gain scholarly attention. In this article, the moral issues in TBH are exposed with critical inquisition on what an *Ubuntu* ethic would prescribe for addressing some of the moral problems in alternative orthopaedic practices. To the extent that parts of TBH might be a useful first aid practice in lieu of orthodox orthopaedic infrastructure, this article finds as morally questionable, delayed referrals by traditional bone-healers resulting in late diagnosis of osteosarcoma and preventable loss of limbs, and sometimes death. Also identified are the pseudoscientific aspects of TBH and a disregard for conflict of interests in the supernatural-profane bone-healing process. This article appeals to *Ubuntu* relational ethic in prescribing solutions to some moral problems involved in TBH. The article concludes that the value for communal relationship in *Ubuntu* ethic is an attractive framework that can ground orthopaedic care that is respectful of conflicts of interests, and individual’s personhood without an attenuation of the common public orthopaedic health good in Africa and beyond.
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publisher Inishmore Laser Scientific Publishing Ltd
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series Journal of Global Health Reports
spelling doaj-art-812db62bb12f4e129ff01a5853003abb2025-08-20T01:47:37ZengInishmore Laser Scientific Publishing LtdJournal of Global Health Reports2399-16232021-04-01510.29392/001c.21958*Ubuntu* ethics and moral problems in traditional bone-healingCornelius EwuosoAdemola Kazeem FayemiKiarash ArameshTraditional bone-healing (TBH) remains a widespread practice for various orthopaedics anomalies in many African countries. Despite the patronage frequency of TBH by patients with orthopaedic crises, the ethical issues involved in TBH are yet to gain scholarly attention. In this article, the moral issues in TBH are exposed with critical inquisition on what an *Ubuntu* ethic would prescribe for addressing some of the moral problems in alternative orthopaedic practices. To the extent that parts of TBH might be a useful first aid practice in lieu of orthodox orthopaedic infrastructure, this article finds as morally questionable, delayed referrals by traditional bone-healers resulting in late diagnosis of osteosarcoma and preventable loss of limbs, and sometimes death. Also identified are the pseudoscientific aspects of TBH and a disregard for conflict of interests in the supernatural-profane bone-healing process. This article appeals to *Ubuntu* relational ethic in prescribing solutions to some moral problems involved in TBH. The article concludes that the value for communal relationship in *Ubuntu* ethic is an attractive framework that can ground orthopaedic care that is respectful of conflicts of interests, and individual’s personhood without an attenuation of the common public orthopaedic health good in Africa and beyond.https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.21958
spellingShingle Cornelius Ewuoso
Ademola Kazeem Fayemi
Kiarash Aramesh
*Ubuntu* ethics and moral problems in traditional bone-healing
Journal of Global Health Reports
title *Ubuntu* ethics and moral problems in traditional bone-healing
title_full *Ubuntu* ethics and moral problems in traditional bone-healing
title_fullStr *Ubuntu* ethics and moral problems in traditional bone-healing
title_full_unstemmed *Ubuntu* ethics and moral problems in traditional bone-healing
title_short *Ubuntu* ethics and moral problems in traditional bone-healing
title_sort ubuntu ethics and moral problems in traditional bone healing
url https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.21958
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