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An Overview of Allocation and Rationing: Implications for Geriatrics
Author(s) -
Pawlson L. Gregory,
Glover Jacqueline J.,
Murphy Donald J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb02117.x
Subject(s) - rationing , medicine , health care rationing , psychological intervention , geriatrics , perspective (graphical) , health care , control (management) , public health , actuarial science , public economics , nursing , economics , economic growth , management , artificial intelligence , psychiatry , computer science
Geriatricians are faced with increasing pressure from insurers and the public to control costs. At the same time, sub‐specialist colleagues, patients, and the courts often demand ever more costly high‐technology interventions. This conflict will only intensify given the sustained increase in the percentage of GNP spent on medical care. A number of prominent biomedical ethicists and others have explored rationing of medical care services as one response to these concerns. This is the second § in a series of articles in the Journal in response to the Oregon Health Decisions Initiative and is designed to provide (1) a brief ethical perspective on rationing and allocation; (2) an analysis of our present, largely implicit, approach to rationing and allocation; and (3) some suggestions that might move the United States closer to a more coherent and reasonable means of allocating and rationing health care.