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PubMed · 10164452

Allocating resources: community involvement is not easy.

R Richardson·C Waddington
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Abstract

Resources for health care are limited in all societies; decisions have to be made about who gets what health care. A case study is discussed. Jaymee Bowen was a British child whose Health Authority refused to provide free treatment for her advanced leukaemia. The media advertised her case and public opinion was mobilized in favour of treating her with public funds. Cost-effectiveness can be used to identify treatments that provide value-for-money. The public can express an opinion on what kinds of care are wanted--for example, what are the relative benefits of preventing morbidity or mortality, or of helping children rather than young people? Rational criteria can be developed with public involvement--in the case of Jaymee Bowen, the proposed treatment really did not appear to offer value-for money. But some individual cases that contradict the 'rational' criteria for the population as a whole will always be able to attract public sympathy and interest.

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Bone Marrow TransplantationChildCommunity Health PlanningCommunity ParticipationDecision Making, OrganizationalFemaleHealth Care RationingHumansMass MediaPrecursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-LymphomaPublic OpinionState MedicineUnited KingdomValue of LifeHealth Care and Public HealthCase ReportsJournal Article

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R Richardson, C Waddington. Allocating resources: community involvement is not easy.. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1751(199610)11%3A4%3C307%3A%3Aaid-hpm441%3E3.0.co%3B2-p

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