Cultural Differences in Advance Directives Relating to End of Life Decision Making

This paper offers an examination of end of life decision making in Western and African cultures. While Western medical practice focuses on individual rights, autonomy and self-determination, African societies emphasize communitarian values. It argues that “advance directives” in Western medical practice put so much emphasis on the autonomy of the patient that as a result, they are inconsistent with African traditional morality. The paper further argues that contrary to Western medical practice, the African practice of making decisions on behalf of an incompetent patient is based on African conception of death and dying and African communal values. The paper concludes by stressing that in spite of the value of “advance directives” in Western medical practice, they can be criticized based on the problems of precedent autonomy and atomistic individualism respectively

Xenophobia and its implications for social order in Africa

Xenophobia, a form of discrimination practiced in countries, particularly in South Africa, is one of the major challenges confronting the modern day society. This paper examines xenophobia as a menace showing at the same time that this discriminatory practice  bifurcates societies by creating a dichotomy amidst the various occupants of the  society, thereby giving room for “otherness” rather than “orderliness”. The paper also highlights the philosophical implications of this societal bifurcation, particularly to the human community. Seeking a plausible way of addressing this challenge, the paper concludes by emphasizing the relevance of the value of tolerance in curbing xenophobia.Keywords: Xenophobia, Social discrimination, Tolerance, order and other, Africa

Poverty and maternal mortality in Nigeria: towards a more viable ethics of modern medical practice

Poverty is often identified as a major barrier to human development. It is also a powerful brake on accelerated progress toward the Millennium Development Goals. Poverty is also a major cause of maternal mortality, as it prevents many women from getting proper and adequate medical attention due to their inability to afford good antenatal care. This Paper thus examines poverty as a threat to human existence, particularly women's health. It highlights the causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria by questioning the practice of medicine in this country, which falls short of the ethical principle of showing care