How can bedside rationing be justified despite coexisting inefficiency? The need for 'benchmarks of efficiency'

Strech, Daniel; Danis, Marion

doi:10.1136/medethics-2012-100769

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Strech, D., & Danis, M. (2014). How can bedside rationing be justified despite coexisting inefficiency? The need for “benchmarks of efficiency.” Journal of Medical Ethics, 40(2), 89–93. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2012-100769

Abstract

Imperfect efficiency in healthcare delivery is sometimes given as a justification for refusing to ration or even discuss how to pursue fair rationing. This paper aims to clarify the relationship between inefficiency and rationing, and the conditions under which bedside rationing can be justified despite coexisting inefficiency. This paper first clarifies several assumptions that underlie the classification of a clinical practice as being inefficient. We then suggest that rationing is difficult to justify in circumstances where the rat