Recognizing bedside rationing: clear cases and tough calls

Article Abstract:

Better recognition of what constitutes bedside rationing may help doctors and other medical professionals to identify potential pitfalls and clarify justifications for this practice. Three criteria and several patient scenarios are presented to identify and illustrate bedside rationing. Bedside rationing criteria include the ability of the doctor to control a specific patient service, withholding appropriate medical services, or choosing a medical service because of financial gain. Choosing the less expensive of two equivalent services does not constitute bedside rationing.

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Have we treated AIDS too well? Rationing and the future of AIDS exceptionalism

Article Abstract:

The lessons learned in fighting the AIDS epidemic should be applied to all diseases. Effective drugs for AIDS patients are very expensive and many patients are uninsured. Congress has funded services strictly for AIDS patients and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program provides drugs to many patients who can't afford them. However, this form of exceptionalism will not last as expensive protease inhibitors become the treatment of choice. Society may not tolerate devoting so many resources to AIDS when other diseases lack such funding.

AIDS (Disease)

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Truth in the most optimistic way

Article Abstract:

Doctors should try to give terminally ill patients a prognosis that is vague enough to include the truth but specific enough so patients can plan their remaining life and death. It is best to leave out numbers, such as telling patients they have six months to live.

Editorial, Evaluation, Physician and patient, Physician-patient relations, Terminal care

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