Healthcare rationing: constraints and equity.
It is no longer possible or ethically acceptable to deny that rationing occurs in medical practice. We ration already by using "contraindications to treatment". There are no rationing criteria that are universally ethically acceptable. We need ways to establish community preferences if we are to develop responsible methods of rationing healthcare services.
Little
J M
JM
Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW. milesl@blackburn.med.su.oz.au
D002755:Choice Behavior; D003256:Community Participation; D015897:Comorbidity; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D018447:Medical Futility; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010358:Patient Participation; D018579:Patient Selection; D010819:Physician's Role