The document discusses ethical issues surrounding healthcare resource allocation, particularly for elderly patients. It notes debates around macro-allocation of public health resources versus micro-allocation of individual care. While some argue for prioritizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness, solely considering ability to pay for care is unethical. The document advocates for early discussions of end-of-life wishes to ensure care aligns with patient values and preferences rather than unwanted interventions.

1. Respond to this post with a positive response :Ask a probing question,
Respond to this post with a positive response :Ask a probing question, substantiated with
additional background information, evidence or research.Share an insight from having read
your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.Offer
and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own
research in the Walden Library.Validate an idea with your own experience and additional
research.Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after
synthesizing multiple postings.Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional
insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.Use at least 3
references Main Post Ethical
Issues“Two traditional theories can be considered regarding health resource allocation:
‘macro-allocation’ – which is defined by respecting the public health policy allocation and
distribution – and ‘micro-allocation’ – which supports the belief that individualized
selection of those who should benefit from the available services are the beneficiaries”
(Jonsen, A., Edwards, K., 2016). The micro-allocation problem suggests prioritization of
patients for things such as limited vacancies, intensive care services, or prioritized organ
transplant. The ethical questions become; is there a fair and equitable way of allocating
health care resources and can a fair and just allocation really be implemented in our current
social, economic and medical environment? Some public policy supports devising an
allocation system focused on the criteria of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Are we better
served by considering how cost-effectiveness can to be applied to persons with shorter
natural life expectancies, such as the elderly? These questions are not easily answered but
they must be considered whenever allocation is proposed. Some forms of allocation are
egregiously unethical in any society that values equality. However, it is also unethical when
you make the ability to pay the only option for obtaining medical care or distributing
medical resources to those in power. Many other problems are less obviously wrong but
still need to be evaluated and debated.Ideally, all persons should have access to a “standard”
of health care to sustain life, prevent illness, relieve distress, and prevent injury. It is the
responsibility of nurses and doctors to empower their patients by having a voice in how
they die. We need better education for our healthcare providers in the care of the dying,
options for palliative care, and of hospice programs. Currently, 75 percent of the public,
regardless of educational efforts, do not have a living will. The majority of people only have
vague talks with family members about how they want to die. Most physicians still resist
having an open discussion with patients and families about death; and by the time patients

2. in hospice have these conversations it is much too late, often less than two weeks before
they die. Many doctors, patients, and families are either in denial, emotional distress, or
both when death is eminent or during the process of the patient dying. As healthcare
providers, we have an opportunity, to create and sustain an open dialog with our patients
and their families about advanced life directives. Some statistics have shown that 58% of
patients did not want to discuss their wishes with their doctors. However, for those who
did what was found to be significant is that 25% of the elderly did not want to be
resuscitated. In 50% of the advanced live saving cases, most were initiated by doctors
and/or requested by the families without the patients’ consent. Therefore, it seems
reasonable to say that rationing healthcare for elderly patients should be based on objective
information and in the patient’s best interest and wishes (End of Life, 2016).In my opinion,
the ethical issues related to “resourcing” can be mitigated by healthcare workers doing a
better job discussing advanced directives and end of life wishes with their patients, and
whenever appropriate, their families. Conversations should begin early in the doctor/nurse
to patient relationship or at least upon hospital admission regarding the patient’s wishes
regardless of their diagnosis or severity. Our present healthcare practices foster
unnecessary, and more importantly, unwanted patient interventions that are better
allocated for those who can benefit from these resources.ReferencesEthical Issues with an
Aging Population (2012). Researchomatic. Retrieved from
http://www.researchomatic.com/ethical-Issues-With-An-Aging-Population-
47844.html Jonsen, A., Edwards, K., (2016). ETHICS IN MEDICINE. University of Washington
School of Medicine. Retrieved from
https://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/resall.htmlLawler, P., Callahan, D., (2012,
July 24). Ethics and Health Care: Ethics and Health Care Rethinking End-0f-Life-Care.
Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/ethics-and-health-
care-rethinking-end-life-careMilstead, J. A. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s
guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.Chapter 7, “Health Policy and
Social Program Evaluation” (pp. 114-127)Schütz GE. Quando o igual tratamento acaba em
injustiça. Um paradoxo bioético das políticas sanitárias universalistas de alocação de
recursos [dissertação]. Rio de Janeiro: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Fiocruz;
2003. Revista Brasileira de Terapia Intensiva. Print version ISSN 0103-507X. Rev. bras. ter.
intensiva vol.21 no.4 São Paulo Oct./Dec. 2009 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-
507X2009000400014 End of Life. (2016, Jul 29). Retrieved fromExpert Solution
PreviewYou are a medical professor in charge of creating college assignments and answers
for medical college students. You design and conduct lectures, evaluate student
performance and provide feedback through examinations and assignments. Answer each
question separately. Include an Introduction.Provide an answer toRespond to this post with
a positive response :Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background
information, evidence or research.Share an insight from having read your colleagues’
postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.Offer and support an
alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the
Walden Library.Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.Make a
suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple

3. postings.Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or
contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.Use at least 3
references Main Post Ethical
Issues“Two traditional theories can be considered regarding health resource allocation:
‘macro-allocation’ – which is defined by respecting the public health policy allocation and
distribution – and ‘micro-allocation’ – which supports the belief that individualized
selection of those who should benefit from the available services are the beneficiaries”
(Jonsen, A., Edwards, K., 2016). The micro-allocation problem suggests prioritization of
patients for things such as limited vacancies, intensive care services, or prioritized organ
transplant. The ethical questions become; is there a fair and equitable way of allocating
health care resources and can a fair and just allocation really be implemented in our current
social, economic and medical environment? Some public policy supports devising an
allocation system focused on the criteria of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Are we better
served by considering how cost-effectiveness can to be applied to persons with shorter
natural life expectancies, such as the elderly? These questions are not easily answered but
they must be considered whenever allocation is proposed. Some forms of allocation are
egregiously unethical in any society that values equality. However, it is also unethical when
you make the ability to pay the only option for obtaining medical care or distributing
medical resources to those in power. Many other problems are less obviously wrong but
still need to be evaluated and debated.Ideally, all persons should have access to a “standard”
of health care to sustain life, prevent illness, relieve distress, and prevent injury. It is the
responsibility of nurses and doctors to empower their patients by having a voice in how
they die. We need better education for our healthcare providers in the care of the dying,
options for palliative care, and of hospice programs. Currently, 75 percent of the public,
regardless of educational efforts, do not have a living will. The majority of people only have
vague talks with family members about how they want to die. Most physicians still resist
having an open discussion with patients and families about death; and by the time patients
in hospice have these conversations it is much too late, often less than two weeks before
they die. Many doctors, patients, and families are either in denial, emotional distress, or
both when death is eminent or during the process of the patient dying. As healthcare
providers, we have an opportunity, to create and sustain an open dialog with our patients
and their families about advanced life directives. Some statistics have shown that 58% of
patients did not want to discuss their wishes with their doctors. However, for those who
did what was found to be significant is that 25% of the elderly did not want to be
resuscitated. In 50% of the advanced live saving cases, most were initiated by doctors
and/or requested by the families without the patients’ consent. Therefore, it seems
reasonable to say that rationing healthcare for elderly patients should be based on objective
information and in the patient’s best interest and wishes (End of Life, 2016).In my opinion,
the ethical issues related to “resourcing” can be mitigated by healthcare workers doing a
better job discussing advanced directives and end of life wishes with their patients, and
whenever appropriate, their families. Conversations should begin early in the doctor/nurse
to patient relationship or at least upon hospital admission regarding the patient’s wishes
regardless of their diagnosis or severity. Our present healthcare practices foster

4. unnecessary, and more importantly, unwanted patient interventions that are better
allocated for those who can benefit from these resources.ReferencesEthical Issues with an
Aging Population (2012). Researchomatic. Retrieved from
http://www.researchomatic.com/ethical-Issues-With-An-Aging-Population-
47844.html Jonsen, A., Edwards, K., (2016). ETHICS IN MEDICINE. University of Washington
School of Medicine. Retrieved from
https://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/resall.htmlLawler, P., Callahan, D., (2012,
July 24). Ethics and Health Care: Ethics and Health Care Rethinking End-0f-Life-Care.
Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/ethics-and-health-
care-rethinking-end-life-careMilstead, J. A. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s
guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.Chapter 7, “Health Policy and
Social Program Evaluation” (pp. 114-127)Schütz GE. Quando o igual tratamento acaba em
injustiça. Um paradoxo bioético das políticas sanitárias universalistas de alocação de
recursos [dissertação]. Rio de Janeiro: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Fiocruz;
2003. Revista Brasileira de Terapia Intensiva. Print version ISSN 0103-507X. Rev. bras. ter.
intensiva vol.21 no.4 São Paulo Oct./Dec. 2009 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-
507X2009000400014 End of Life. (2016, Jul 29). Retrieved from#Respond #post #positive
#response #probing #question