Current Dilemmas in Medical-Care Rationing

This unique book covers all parameters of medical-care rationing. The author discusses the reasons for medical-care rationing, the available methods for applying it, the philosophical principles used to determine how it is to be done, and finally its political realities in a democracy. Shenkin presents a balanced consideration of all issues. He makes clear why medical-care rationing problems are so difficult to resolve and why, actually, they may be irresolvable. He argues that the realities of human nature and the realities of the political process of democracy often preclude the actual accomplishment of rationing medical care. Contents: Why of All Consumer Items Should Medical Care Be Rationed Other Than By the Marketplace?; What Parts of Medical Care Need to Be Rationed?; How Can Medical Care Be Rationed: General Categorization of Methods; Specific Methods; What Principles Can Be Used to Ration Medical Care?; Final Considerations; Conclusions; References; Index.