In: Nursing
Respond to the following prompt in 1500 to 2000 words:
Health care workers have an ethical responsibility to provide services that are necessary and effective and not to provide care that is ineffective, inappropriate, or harmful. At the same time, resource allocation decisions concerning the use of limited health care resources must also be made for the health care system. How can equitable and just decisions be made on the allocation of limited health care resources, and who should be involved in making such decisions?
Rationing is the allocation of scarce resources, which in
healthcare essentially means withholding potentially beneficial
treatments for some people. Legalization is inevitable because
needs are unlimited and resources are not. The way legalization
occurs is important because it not only affects the lives of
individuals but also expresses the most important values of a
society.
Healthcare reform has remained a controversial social and political
issue over the past two decades. Part of the debate stems from the
political level whether health care reform will include
legalization of health care. This topic raises concerns about the
unfair treatment of individuals, fueled by allegations that
legalization reduces the value of human life.
Doctors have suffered from the controversy surrounding legalization. 4, 3 Some deny the existence of legalization and say that their professional obligations require them not to participate in legalization. In a recent survey, only 60% said they provide "every patient with all beneficial treatments regardless of cost" 11.
To be deeply involved in the social debate over the rationalization of medicine, physicians must be well informed. This article aims to address the following topics: (1) The imperative of rationing social benefits, including medical care. (2) Types of legalization; And (iv) whether rationing intensive care for end-of-life persons will lead to significant savings.
In many industrialized countries, social goods - including healthcare, education, defense, infrastructure, environmental protection, and public health - are financed through a common pool. Although the need for such social benefits is unlimited, the resources available to provide them are limited. Attempting to meet all of our healthcare needs will likely overwhelm our ability to provide essentials for other social goods, such as public safety, education and defense. Therefore, some health care rationalization is essential for the general well-being of society.