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Is It Reasonable to Deny Older Patients Treatment for Glioblastoma?

Authors :
Gusmano, Michael K.
Source :
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics; Jun2014, Vol. 42 Issue 2, p183-189, 7p
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

Is it ever fair to limit treatment for diseases like glioblastoma for which prognosis is poor? Because resources are finite and health care spending limits the other possible uses for those resources, limiting access to an intervention that does not generate benefits is ethically sound. Ignoring the balance of benefits and burdens associated with treatment ignores opportunity costs and leads us to treat some lives as more valuable than others. Although it is ethically sound to set limits on medical care, I argue that biological age is a poor criterion for allocating resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10731105
Volume :
42
Issue :
2
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
97071853
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/jlme.12134