title: Palivizumab: a debate about funding.
abstract: A clinician and the chair of the hospital drug committee debate the merits of the use of palivizumab as prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus infection for a preterm baby with oxygen-dependent, chronic lung disease and discuss the issue of public funding of palivizumab. An ethicist comments on ethical aspects of the debate about cost-effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Dominic A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isaacs
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tobin
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D005381:Financing, Organized / Q000941:ethics*; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics*; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D000069455:Palivizumab; D010606:Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee / Q000941:ethics*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000069455:Palivizumab