Age and the allocation of medical resources

Helga Kuhse; Peter Singer

doi:10.1093/jmp/13.1.101

Age and the allocation of medical resources

Helga Kuhse, Peter Singer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

How are we to decide where our scarce medical resources are most effectively spent? The notion of a quality-adjusted-life-year has been proposed as a way of doing this. Some economists appear to think that this can be done without making ethical assumptions. We examine the application of this notion to the treatment of premature newborns, and especially to comparisons between the value of medical care for newborns, and the value of medical care for older people. We find that some highly questionable ethical assumptions are inovled in such comparisons.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	101-116
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
Volume	13
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/13.1.101
State	Published - Feb 1988
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General Medicine

Keywords

Elderly
Health care
Justice
Resource allocation

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10.1093/jmp/13.1.101

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Age and the allocation of medical resources

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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