Rationing, responsibility and blameworthiness : An ethical evaluation of responsibility-sensitive policies for healthcare rationing

Journal article


Symons, Xavier and Chua, Reginald. (2021). Rationing, responsibility and blameworthiness : An ethical evaluation of responsibility-sensitive policies for healthcare rationing. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal. 31(1), pp. 53-76. https://doi.org/10.1353/ken.2021.0004
AuthorsSymons, Xavier and Chua, Reginald
Abstract

Several ethicists have defended the use of responsibility-based criteria in healthcare rationing. Yet in this article we outline two challenges to the implementation of responsibility-based healthcare rationing policies. These two challenges are, namely, that responsibility for past behavior can diminish as an agent changes, and that blame can come apart from responsibility. These challenges suggest that it is more difficult to hold someone responsible for health related actions than proponents of responsibility-sensitive healthcare policies suggest. We close by discussing public health policies that could function as an alternative to contentious, responsibility-sensitive rationing policies.

Year2021
JournalKennedy Institute of Ethics Journal
Journal citation31 (1), pp. 53-76
PublisherNLM (Medline)
ISSN1086-3249
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1353/ken.2021.0004
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85102914596
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range53-76
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
OnlineMar 2021
Publication process dates
Deposited09 Jun 2022
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8xy6q/rationing-responsibility-and-blameworthiness-an-ethical-evaluation-of-responsibility-sensitive-policies-for-healthcare-rationing

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 60
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Why conscience matters : A theory of conscience and its relevance to conscientious objection in medicine
Symons, Xavier. (2023). Why conscience matters : A theory of conscience and its relevance to conscientious objection in medicine. Res Publica. 29(1), pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11158-022-09555-2
Conscientious objection in health care : Why the professional duty argument is unconvincing
Symons, Xavier. (2022). Conscientious objection in health care : Why the professional duty argument is unconvincing. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy. 47(4), pp. 549-557. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/jhac013
Vulnerability and resilience : Phenomenological analysis of cancer patients value directives
Michael, Natasha, Symons, Xavier, Mendz, George L. and Kissane, David. (2022). Vulnerability and resilience : Phenomenological analysis of cancer patients value directives. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 64(5), pp. 438-448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.07.015
An ethical defense of a mandated choice consent procedure for deceased organ donation
Symons, Xavier and Poulden, Billy. (2022). An ethical defense of a mandated choice consent procedure for deceased organ donation. Asian Bioethics Review. 14(3), pp. 259-270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41649-022-00206-5
Why should HCWs receive priority access to vaccines in a pandemic?
Symons, Xavier, Matthews, Stephen Crawford and Tobin, Bernadette Margaret. (2021). Why should HCWs receive priority access to vaccines in a pandemic? BMC Medical Ethics. 22(1), pp. 79-88. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-021-00650-2
Respect for persons and the allocation of lifesaving healthcare resources
Symons, Xavier. (2021). Respect for persons and the allocation of lifesaving healthcare resources. Bioethics. 35(5), pp. 392-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12857
Reflective disequilibrium : A critical evaluation of the complete lives framework for healthcare rationing
Symons, Xavier. (2021). Reflective disequilibrium : A critical evaluation of the complete lives framework for healthcare rationing. Journal of Medical Ethics. 47(2), pp. 108-112. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106626
‘Alive by default’ : An exploration of Velleman’s unfair burdens argument against state sanctioned euthanasia
Symons, Xavier and Chua, Reginald. (2020). ‘Alive by default’ : An exploration of Velleman’s unfair burdens argument against state sanctioned euthanasia. Bioethics. 34(3), pp. 288-294. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12677
Pellegrino, MacIntyre, and the internal morality of clinical medicine
Symons, Xavier. (2019). Pellegrino, MacIntyre, and the internal morality of clinical medicine. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics. 40(3), pp. 243-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-019-09487-8
Patients' and caregivers' contested perspectives on spiritual care for those affected by advanced illnesses : A qualitative descriptive study
O'Callaghan, Clare, Brooker, Joanne, de Silva, William, Glenister, David, Melia, Cert Adelaide, Symons, Xavier, Kissane, David and Michael, Natasha. (2019). Patients' and caregivers' contested perspectives on spiritual care for those affected by advanced illnesses : A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 58(6), pp. 977-988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.08.004
Meeting needs and respecting persons : An ethical framework for the allocation of lifesaving healthcare interventions
Symons, Xavier. (2019). Meeting needs and respecting persons : An ethical framework for the allocation of lifesaving healthcare interventions [PhD Thesis]. Australian Catholic University School of Philosophy https://doi.org/10.26199/acu.8vyv1
Organismal death, the dead-donor rule and the ethics of vital organ procurement
Symons, Xavier and Chua, Reginald Mary. (2018). Organismal death, the dead-donor rule and the ethics of vital organ procurement. Journal of Medical Ethics. 44(12), pp. 868-871. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2018-104796
Rawls, reasonableness, and conscientious objection in health care
Symons, Xavier. (2018). Rawls, reasonableness, and conscientious objection in health care. In In Grant, Bligh, Drew, Joseph and Christensen, Helen E. (Ed.). Applied ethics in the fractured state : Volume 20 pp. 45-54 Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-209620180000020004
Extending awareness of Catholic healthcare ethics among junior clinicians : A qualitative study
O’Callaghan, Clare, Trimboli, Julia, Symons, Xavier, Staples, Margaret, Patterson, Emma and Michael, Natasha. (2018). Extending awareness of Catholic healthcare ethics among junior clinicians : A qualitative study. Journal of Religion and Health. 57(4), pp. 1440-1450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0519-5
Does the doctrine of double effect apply to the prescription of barbiturates? Syme vs the Medical Board of Australia
Symons, Xavier. (2018). Does the doctrine of double effect apply to the prescription of barbiturates? Syme vs the Medical Board of Australia. Journal of Medical Ethics. 44(4), pp. 266-269. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2017-104230
The right to know versus the right to privacy : Donor anonymity and the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Amendment Act 2016 (Vic)
Symons, Xavier. (2017). The right to know versus the right to privacy : Donor anonymity and the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Amendment Act 2016 (Vic). Medical Journal of Australia. 207(9), pp. 377-378. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00259