Routledge - The Allocation of Health Care Resources - QALY Book

As the competition for limited health care resources grows more intense, finding an acceptable method for allocation becomes a necessity. This book from the Medico-Legal Series provides an ethical evaluation of the QALY approach to address this urgent challenge. Health care produces diverse outcomes that are difficult to compare. It can extend the lives of both children and older people, restore mobility to those who would otherwise be bedridden, or reduce the pain of terminally ill patients. This text examines how we can decide which of these different achievements are more deserving of resources. Designed for those studying the intersection of law, ethics, and economics, this work tackles the complex question of how to value different types of health improvements. It offers a deep look into the ethical frameworks used to manage medical resource distribution in an increasingly competitive environment.