Ethics, Cost Containment, and the Allocation of Scarce Resources

Cardiac retransplantation

“…This could have important consequence for the doctor-patient relationship and the practice of Re-CTx [229]. The traditional role of the physician has been based on the uncompromising advocacy of the patient's interest [43,286]. Most ethicists agree that patients advocacy should remain the pre-eminent consideration of the individual physician [286].…”

“…The traditional role of the physician has been based on the uncompromising advocacy of the patient's interest [43,286]. Most ethicists agree that patients advocacy should remain the pre-eminent consideration of the individual physician [286]. Any The selection of patients for Re-CTx to obtain optimal results is, however, without question the most difficult part of the process involved in this procedure.…”

Cost‐effective management of colon and rectal cancer

“…The medical care component of the consumer price index rose at an average rate of 8.5% from 1980 to 1985, as compared to a rate of 4.8% for other items [2]. As politicians and economists become increasingly concerned with outcomes, it is appropriate that physicians become concerned with costs.Factors which are felt to be responsible for the spiralling costs of health care include: 1) technologic innovation; 2) the practice of defensive medicine; 3) inefficiency; 4) aging of the population; and 5) increasing access to health care [1,2,3].The purpose of this article is to examine the current health economics literature with the intent of providing surgeons with the tools to understand discussions of cost-effectiveness in health care, providing examples which are relevant to the management of colorectal cancer (CRC). The framework for this discussion is provided by a brief summary of some general economic considerations and specific definitions of terms and methods commonly employed by health economists.…”

“…No recent trend toward restraint has been noted. The medical care component of the consumer price index rose at an average rate of 8.5% from 1980 to 1985, as compared to a rate of 4.8% for other items [2]. As politicians and economists become increasingly concerned with outcomes, it is appropriate that physicians become concerned with costs.…”

“…Factors which are felt to be responsible for the spiralling costs of health care include: 1) technologic innovation; 2) the practice of defensive medicine; 3) inefficiency; 4) aging of the population; and 5) increasing access to health care [1,2,3].…”