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Should Health Care be Rationed by Age?

Tore Nilstun Department of Medical Ethics, Lund University, Lund Sweden, Address for correspondence: Ass. professor Tore Nilstun Department of Medical Ethics Sölvegatan 9 S-22362 Lund Sweden

Rolf Ohlsson

Rolf Ohlsson Department of Economic History, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Can rationing of health care by chronological age be justified on ethical grounds? The principles of equality, solidarity, liberty and efficiency are used as value premises in the discussion. Health care rationing by age is inconsistent with the principles of equality and liberty. But in some situations such rationing has support from the principles of solidarity and efficiency.

The compromise suggested is that, as a rule, rationing by age should not be permitted, except in situations with intrinsic scarcity (as is the case with transplantation) and in situations with temporary extrinsic scarcity (as was the case with dialysis for a period of time). However, the main purpose is not to defend this position, but to identify and analyze the ethical conflicts such rationing gives rise to.

Key Words: age • efficiency • equality • justice • liberty • needs • rationing • solidarity

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 23, No. 2, 81-84 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/140349489502300201


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