RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Principles of justice in health care rationing
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 323
OP 329
DO 10.1136/jme.26.5.323
VO 26
IS 5
A1 Richard Cookson
A1 Paul Dolan
YR 2000
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/26/5/323.abstract
AB This paper compares and contrasts three different substantive (as opposed to procedural) principles of justice for making health care priority-setting or “rationing” decisions: need principles, maximising principles and egalitarian principles. The principles are compared by tracing out their implications for a hypothetical rationing decision involving four identified patients. This decision has been the subject of an empirical study of public opinion based on small-group discussions, which found that the public seem to support a pluralistic combination of all three kinds of rationing principle. In conclusion, it is suggested that there is room for further work by philosophers and others on the development of a coherent and pluralistic theory of health care rationing which accords with public opinions.