Ethical Shortcomings of QALY: Discrimination Against Minorities in Public Health.
Camb Q Healthc Ethics
; : 1-8, 2024 Jan 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38221736
ABSTRACT
Despite progress, discrimination in public health remains a problem. A significant aspect of this problem relates to how medical resources are allocated. The paradigm of quality-adjusted-life-year (QALY) dictates that medical resources should be allocated on the basis of units measured as length of life and quality of life that are expected after the implementation of a treatment. In this article, I discuss some of the ethical shortcomings of QALY, by focusing on some of its flawed moral aspects, as well as the way it relates to discrimination on the basis of age, race, and disability status. I argue that while this approach seeks to maximize efficiency, it does not place sufficient value on the preservation of life itself. Even more concerning is the fact that the use of QALY disproportionately harms minorities. While QALY is a well-intentioned approach to the allocation of scarce healthcare resources, new alternatives must be sought.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Aspecto:
Ethics
/
Patient_preference
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Camb Q Healthc Ethics
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article