Thursday, August 14, 2008

[EQ] Ethics in American Health 1: Ethical Approaches to Health Policy - 2. Ethical Framework for Health System Reform

Ethics in American Health 1: Ethical Approaches to Health Policy


Jennifer Prah Ruger, Yale University School of Medicine

Am J Public Health published 13 August 2008, 10.2105/AJPH.2007.121343

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2007.121343v1?papetoc



“…..I trace the evolution of ethical approaches to health policy in the United States and examines a number of critical unresolved issues pertaining to the current set of frameworks. Several themes emerge.

 

·         First, fair resource-allocation procedures claim more attention than substantive and procedural principles.

·         Second, in the case of public deliberation, more focus has been placed on factors such as procedural mechanisms than on understanding how individuals and groups value different aspects of health and agree on health-related decisions.

·         Third, the nation needs workable frameworks to guide collective choices about valuable social ends and their tradeoffs; purely procedural strategies are limited in illuminating overarching health policy and ethics questions. There is a need to integrate consequential and procedural approaches to health ethics and policy….”



Ethics in American Health 2: An Ethical Framework for Health System Reform


Jennifer Prah Ruger, Yale University School of Medicine

Am J Public Health published 13 August 2008, 10.2105/AJPH.2007.114124

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2007.114124v1?papetoc



“…..I argue that an ethical vision resting on explicitly articulated values and norms is critical to ensuring comprehensive health reform. Reform requires a consensus on the public good transcending self-interest and narrow agendas and underpinning collective action for universal coverage. In what I call shared health governance, individuals, providers, and institutions all have essential roles in achieving health goals and work together to create a positive environment for health. This ethical paradigm provides

(1) reasoned consensus through a joint scientific and deliberative approach to judge the value of a health care intervention;
(2) a method for achieving consensus that differs from aggregate tools such as a strict majority vote;
(3) combined technical and ethical rationality for collective choice;
(4) a joint clinical and economic approach combining efficiency with equity, but with economic solutions following and complementing clinical progress; and
(5) protection for disabled individuals from discrimination.

 

 

 

*      *      *     *

This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ IKM Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAHO/WHO Website: http://www.paho.org/

EQUITY List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html

 

 

 

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.  

No comments: