faith * politics * culture * economics * social issues * history : for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully
I am glad you find this article troubling. I do too, and that should be no surprise.
If one begins by supposing that (1) it is the government's role to dole out healthcare, and then (2) one wants to do their job well, and (3) one lives in the world of scarcity (despite any desire for a different world) then one is left with no choice but to evaluate where the scarce resources of health care will go the furthest. So the good state-health-care-manager would naturally reject scarce care to those who have few days remaining and give it to those who have many - that is more efficient and more consistent with their understanding of doing their job well.
I would depart from this line of thinking at the first tenant - that it is the state's role to dole out health care. Once that idea is deposed, each individual or his family can decide how much of the scarce health care to purchase.
I am glad you find this article troubling. I do too, and that should be no surprise.
ReplyDeleteIf one begins by supposing that (1) it is the government's role to dole out healthcare, and then (2) one wants to do their job well, and (3) one lives in the world of scarcity (despite any desire for a different world) then one is left with no choice but to evaluate where the scarce resources of health care will go the furthest. So the good state-health-care-manager would naturally reject scarce care to those who have few days remaining and give it to those who have many - that is more efficient and more consistent with their understanding of doing their job well.
I would depart from this line of thinking at the first tenant - that it is the state's role to dole out health care. Once that idea is deposed, each individual or his family can decide how much of the scarce health care to purchase.