When allocating scarce medical resources, which principle is most appropriate?

When allocating scarce medical resources, which principle is most appropriate?

• A. Allocate based on ability to pay.
• B. Use a first-come, first-served approach.
• C. Base decisions on likelihood of benefit and fairness.
• D. Allocate randomly without criteria.

Answer: (C)

When resources are scarce, the guiding approach is to allocate based on who is most likely to benefit from the resource while ensuring the process is fair and non-discriminatory. This means evaluating prognosis and potential improvement to maximize overall good, but doing so through transparent criteria that respect each person’s value and rights. Relying on ability to pay is unethical and creates inequity, while giving priority to whoever arrives first tends to advantage those with faster access rather than those in greatest need or most likely to benefit. Random allocation also fails to consider potential benefit or establish a fair, rational basis for decision-making.

When resources are scarce, the guiding approach is to allocate based on who is most likely to benefit from the resource while ensuring the process is fair and non-discriminatory. This means evaluating prognosis and potential improvement to maximize overall good, but doing so through transparent criteria that respect each person’s value and rights. Relying on ability to pay is unethical and creates inequity, while giving priority to whoever arrives first tends to advantage those with faster access rather than those in greatest need or most likely to benefit. Random allocation also fails to consider potential benefit or establish a fair, rational basis for decision-making.