ISSN: 26146169 @Center for Humanities and Innovation Studies 129 International Journal of Humanities and Innovation (IJHI) Vol. 2 No. 4, 2019 pp. 129-135 Ethical issues in traditional herbal medical practice in Nigeria Ezedike Edward *1 , Chrisantus Kanayochukwu Ariche 2 1 Department of Philosophy, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria * e-mail: uzomaezedike@gmail.com 2 Chrisantus Kanayochukwu Ariche, Department of Philosophy, University of Calabar, Nigeria e-mail: arichesantus@gmail.com Abstract There is increased use and popularity of herbal medicine in Nigeria in recent times. Scholars from different fields have attributed this recent upsurge to economic issues, high cost of modern medical care, loss of confidence in synthetic drugs, resistant of diseases to some modern drugs and easy accessibility of herbal medicines and its practitioners, amongst others. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a large portion of the world’s population patronizes traditional herbal medicines. However, there is perceived neglect of the core principles of health care ethics by the practitioners and marketers of traditional herbal medicine in Nigeria. This is worrisome. In this connection, this paper argues that Nigerians will benefit immensely from traditional herbal medicine if its practitioners and marketers observe and respect these core principles of health care which includes the principles of beneficence, non- maleficence, autonomy, informed consent, justice, and truthfulness. This study is purely qualitative and adopts a textual critical analytic method. Keywords: Beneficence; non-maleficence; justice; truthfulness, autonomy. 1 INTRODUCTION The growth of Bioethics was championed by James F. Childress and Thomas Beauchamp, who were the first Americans to publish a book on Bioethics (Pereira-Sáez, 2016). The text formed the foundation of Bioethics. The four core principles of Bio-Medical ethics namely the principle of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice, were contained in their book titled Principles of Biomedical Ethics. These four principles are also known as “Principlism.” The idea was that these core principles must be observed for ethical medical care. This work will evaluate these principles concerning traditional herbal medical practice in Nigeria. This research will examine how each of these principles is being violated in traditional herbal medical practice in Nigeria. In conventional medical practice, ethical guidelines are already put in place to enable physicians and all health caregivers to adhere strictly to but in herbal medical practice, ethical principles are not considered as necessary. These principles are important because they act as the moral compass that guides and directs the actions of the practitioners, marketers and all those involved in the practice. In medical practice, both conventional and traditional herbal these principles of health care ethics are indispensable. These principles are inseparable from medical practice. The danger is that once these principles are neglected, human cruelty, exploitation, abuses, dehumanization, and all sorts of unethical acts sets. Many of the present-day traditional herbal medicine practitioners and their marketers misinform the public through spurious claims. There is no doubt that such an act is motivated by self-interest and sharp business mentality and that automatically violates the principles of truthfulness. Some of them circumvent drug approval procedures and this implies that they are putting their interest above that of the public which violates the principles of beneficence and non- maleficence. Furthermore, the information they give is usually insufficient and when people consent based on such insufficient information such consent is invalid and this violates the principles of informed consent. When the practitioners circumvent drug approval procedures, adulterate herbal preparations and make spurious claims, they are not just to the consumers and this violates the principle of justice. It is therefore evident that these principles are violated in traditional herbal medical practice in Nigeria and this is worrisome because the benefits of traditional herbal medicine will not be achieved when these core principles are being violated daily. 2 THE ETHICAL ISSUES IN TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA 2.1 The Principle of Beneficence This concept is widely used in medical practice though it has received several interpretations over time. Broadly speaking it means “doing good, the active promotion of good, kindness and charity” (Beauchamp, 1984). From a traditional perspective, acts of beneficence arise from obligation. In medical ethics, beneficence is a moral principle which demands that physicians or health caregivers provide good benefits like good health, prevent and avoid harm to patients to the best of their ability. This principle protects an individual to minimize harm and maximize benefits. According to Mawere (2012) “beneficence as a principle of medical ethics asserts an obligation (on the part of the physician) to help others (patients) further their importance and legitimate interest and abstain from injuring them in any way, that is psychologically, morally or physically.” Beneficence also holds that in health care, the interest of the patient takes precedence over that of the physician or health caregiver. Its central concern is that the physician has an obligation towards the good of the patient, keeping the patients from harm, injury, or injustice. The emphasis in healthcare is the patient's best interest and not that of the physician. The principle of beneficence is essential for health caregivers to carefully analyze, evaluate and promote those acts that bring benefits to patients and the general public. Beneficence is a "prima facie" principle. In this principle, the healthcare giver or the physician has the obligation not to harm the patient either