[To choose who should live: a bioethical study of social criteria to microallocation of health care resources in medical emergencies].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze ethical dilemmas about microallocation of health care scarce resources, based on deontological and utilitarian bioethical basis. It analyzes some criteria considered in the choices and justifications for patients selection in medical emergencies.


METHODS
395 subjects were interviewed in the city of Diadema/SP, about dilemmas among two people needing a place in a public hospital of emergency service. The presented situations dealed with the following social criteria: age, sex, social responsibility and economical condition.


RESULTS
They pointed that significant portion of those researched seems to consider that the use of social criteria is valid and that the people lives can have unequal value in situations of scarce resources, accepting social variables to prioritize in situations of evidenced medical emergency.


CONCLUSIONS
It could be evoked the coexistence of deontological orientations, defending the more "weak and vulnerable", and utilitarian positions, opting for the potential and life expectation as well as for the social responsibility.
Departamento de Prática de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Paulo Antonio de Carvalho
PA
Fortes
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001675:Bioethics; D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011639:Public Opinion; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors