Accession Number:

ADA288475

Title:

Ethical Decision Making in Resource Allocation Equity in the Military Health Services System.

Descriptive Note:

Research rept. Aug 93-Apr 94,

Corporate Author:

INDUSTRIAL COLL OF THE ARMED FORCES WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Cerha, Debra A.

Report Date:

1994-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

37.0

Abstract:

The Department of Defense is in the process of restructuring the Military Health Services System MHSS and modifying the resource allocation process. This paper examines ethics, primarily the concept of equity, as it relates to the MHSS both before and after the restructuring. Rationing, implicit versus explicit, is discussed. The paper concludes that greater equity in the delivery of care through the MHSS should be achieved through the restructuring process and the implementation of managed health care concepts. When ethical dilernmas in health care are discussed, conversations quickly begin revolving around patient-physician centered interactions, e.g., use of experimental drugs, euthanasia, abortion and more recently, genetic engineering. But health care administrators, be they in the policy or operational hospitalclinic arenas, have a poterftially greater impact, for good or harm, on the ethical functioning of the health care system.1 Health care ethics include social issues arising from the pursuit of health, such as equal access and methods of financing health care, as well as the actions proper to the patient-physician relationship.

Descriptors:

• *ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
• * MEDICAL SERVICES
• * MILITARY PERSONNEL
• *HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
• DELIVERY
• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• DECISION MAKING
• HEALTH
• ALLOCATIONS
• ACCESS
• ETHICS
• RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
• DRUGS
• ABORTION
• EUTHANASIA
• GENETIC ENGINEERING
• HOSPITALS
• OUTPATIENT CLINICS
• PURSUIT COURSES

Subject Categories:

• Medicine and Medical Research
• Administration and Management
• Medical Facilities, Equipment and Supplies

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE