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An ethical framework for responding to drug shortages in pediatric oncology
Author(s) -
Beck Jill C.,
Smith Laurie D.,
Gordon Bruce G.,
Garrett Jeremy R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.25461
Subject(s) - economic shortage , beneficence , medicine , context (archaeology) , economic justice , drug , distribution (mathematics) , drug development , prioritization , intensive care medicine , engineering ethics , pharmacology , business , autonomy , political science , law , process management , paleontology , mathematical analysis , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics , government (linguistics) , biology , engineering
The frequency of drug shortages has increased considerably over the last decade. Important ethical issues arise whenever the supply of an effective drug is insufficient to meet demand. Using the ethical principles of beneficence, non‐maleficence, and justice, institutions can guide prioritization of drug distribution before a shortage occurs to avoid unfair and unethical distribution of resources. This analysis will give a historical context for drug shortages, identify, and explore the central ethical concerns raised by drug shortages, and propose an ethical framework for addressing them in the context of pediatric oncology. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:931–934. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.