title: Advocacy through convenient definition of societal objectives. Cost-benefit analyses in health care.
abstract: In modern democracies, societal objectives are pluralistic, varied, and often mutually conflicting. Consequently, cost-benefit analysts have considerable scope for defining societal objectives in a manner most suitable for advocating their clients' programs. Three different therapies for a hypothetical disease are considered. Alternative definitions of societal objectives suitable for the advocacies of the different therapies are outlined. Some generalized principles of advocacy through convenient definition of societal objectives are identified.
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D004467:Economics; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D026712:Value of Life