Resource Allocation (Law and Ethics)

Question 1

3 layers of resource allocation

Answer 1

Macro - national budget for healthcare

Midi - health budget allocation

Micro - clinician discretion

Question 2

How to decide who receives intervention/resources?

Answer 2

1. Likelihood of medical benefit
   Utilitarian approach to maximise good
   How do you determine benefit?
   Tyranny of majority?
2. Social worth
   Based on contribution that people have made/would make for society
   Danger of discrimination, prejudice, corruption
   Who decides? What is valued in society?
3. Lottery - all treated equally, allocation by chance
   No discrimination
   Does not consider need, cost effectiveness, responsibility
4. First come first serve
5. Need
   How to define need? Does not consider cost effectiveness
6. Personal responsibility - allocation based on lifestyle choices
   Incentivises positive health behaviours.
   Moralistic and judgemental?
   Not all choices a free e.g. addiction