Dr. Sumait Hospital proudly announces the publication of an important international research article addressing one of the most urgent and under-recognized challenges in women’s health and patient safety: women’s right to provide informed surgical consent in emergency and non-emergency care settings.
The article was authored by Rahmo Mohamed Ali, MBBS, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SIMAD University, Dr. Sumait Hospital, and contributes critical evidence-based, ethical, and policy-relevant insights aimed at reducing preventable maternal morbidity and mortality in Somalia and similar low-resource settings.
Research Title
Women’s Right to Surgical Self-Consent: A Legal and Moral Imperative for Somalia
Journal Information
International Journal of Women’s Health (Dove Medical Press)
- Year: 2025
- Volume: 17
- Pages: 5553–5556
- Published: 18 December 2025
- Article Type: Policy Commentary
- DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S563497
Overview of the Study
This policy commentary highlights a critical yet often overlooked barrier to timely surgical care in Somalia: the requirement for male family consent before women can undergo surgical procedures, even during life-threatening emergencies.
Drawing on regional and international evidence, the article demonstrates how consent-related delays—particularly in emergency obstetric care such as caesarean sections—are associated with increased severe maternal and newborn outcomes. The study emphasizes that protecting women’s autonomy is not only a legal and ethical obligation, but a life-saving necessity.
Key Focus Areas of the Research
The publication addresses several core dimensions of women’s health and surgical ethics:
- Women’s autonomy and informed surgical consent
- Consent-related delays in emergency obstetric care
- Maternal morbidity and mortality in low-resource settings
- Legal ambiguity and clinical decision-making challenges
- Alignment of medical ethics with Islamic principles of preserving life
- System-level reforms to support timely, respectful care
Major Insights and Messages
Consent Delays Cost Lives
Evidence from Somaliland shows that nearly half of prolonged emergency caesarean delays are due to family consent requirements, significantly increasing severe maternal complications.
Autonomy Is a Patient Safety Issue
The article reframes women’s self-consent as a core patient safety intervention, not merely a rights-based concern.
Ethics and Faith Are Aligned
Islamic jurisprudence prioritizes the preservation of life, providing a strong moral foundation for reforming consent practices.
Clinicians Face Moral Distress
Healthcare providers experience ethical and emotional strain when unable to act promptly due to consent barriers.
Recommended Pathways for Reform
The commentary proposes five actionable recommendations:
- Legal clarification affirming women’s right to consent to their own care
- Emergency presumed consent when delays threaten life
- Advance antenatal consent to reduce emergency delays
- Community engagement with elders, religious leaders, and women’s groups
- Provider training in ethical decision-making and respectful communication
Why This Research Matters
Maternal mortality in Somalia remains among the highest globally. Addressing preventable consent-related delays is a critical step toward:
- Improving maternal and newborn survival
- Strengthening patient-centered care
- Supporting clinicians with clear ethical guidance
- Advancing equitable and timely surgical services
Impact for Somalia and Global Women’s Health
This publication represents a significant contribution to global women’s health research from Somalia. It:
- Elevates Somali scholarship on the international stage
- Supports evidence-based maternal health policy reform
- Aligns with WHO recommendations on emergency care
- Reinforces Somalia’s role in global health ethics discourse
Institutional Commitment
Dr. Sumait Hospital and SIMAD University remain committed to:
- Advancing women’s health and patient safety
- Promoting ethical, evidence-based clinical practice
- Supporting research that informs national health policy
- Strengthening academic and global research partnerships
Ethical and Publication Notes
This article is a peer-reviewed policy commentary and did not involve human participants or patient data. Ethical approval and individual consent were not required.
Read the Full Article
The full article is available in the International Journal of Women’s Health:
🔗 https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S563497