title: Halfway technologies.
abstract: An extraordinary gamut of medical and surgical therapies could be considered "halfway technologies," addressing mere symptoms or manifestations of disease, rather than the underlying pathogenesis. When a "halfway" technology is also lifesaving, its value cannot be underestimated by the individual patient. The example of organ transplantation explored in this column represents a halfway technology. It does not treat the underlying disease itself, but reflects the absolute failure of all efforts at medical and conservative therapy and is a last ditch, gerry-rigged lifesaving solution. And what about "quarter technologies"--the bridge to transplant devices--designed to get the patient halfway to the final halfway procedure?
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D010336:Pathology; D018579:Patient Selection; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D013675:Technology, High-Cost; D014481:United States; D014850:Waiting Lists