Health Rights and Responsibilities Hsm 542
Medicare Funded Organ Transplants
Keller Graduate School of Management
Health Rights and Responsibilities HSM 542
Medicare Funded Organ Transplants: Ethical Issues
Introduction
“Ethical issues are the branch of philosophy that defines what is good for the individual and for society and establishes the nature of obligations, or duties, that people owe themselves and one another. In modern society, ethics define how individuals, professionals, and corporations choose to interact with one another.” (Ethics, Legal legal definition of Ethics, Legal. Ethics, Legal synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.) The ethical issue with Medicare funded organ transplants is who it should be eligible and the problem that the needed immunosuppressant drug is only available for a limited amount of time through Medicare funding. The value of a person’s life has been fragmented down to if they have worked long enough, have enough wealth and/or resources to deserve an organ transplant; and the required drugs. This is troublesome in the regard to should everyone have an equal shot to a prolonged life and quality of care. Only those who have the ability to pay will be put on the waiting list for an organ.
Define Problem
How can Medicare better handle the ethical issues faced with funding organ transplants and the medication needed? “Since 1973, end-stage renal disease has been the only condition specifically covered by Medicare regardless of age. In 1988, coverage was extended for 12 months to anti-rejection drugs, which had recently been developed. Congress gradually lengthened the cutoff to 36 months, and then in 2000 made the benefit unlimited for those who are at least 65 or disabled. The rationale for leaving out younger transplant recipients was simply that the money was not there.” (Medicare Covers Transplants, But Limits Payments for Anti-Rejection Drugs - NYTimes.com) There are cases where the government has actually paid more money because the organ was rejected
Keller Graduate School of Management
Health Rights and Responsibilities HSM 542
Medicare Funded Organ Transplants: Ethical Issues
Introduction
“Ethical issues are the branch of philosophy that defines what is good for the individual and for society and establishes the nature of obligations, or duties, that people owe themselves and one another. In modern society, ethics define how individuals, professionals, and corporations choose to interact with one another.” (Ethics, Legal legal definition of Ethics, Legal. Ethics, Legal synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.) The ethical issue with Medicare funded organ transplants is who it should be eligible and the problem that the needed immunosuppressant drug is only available for a limited amount of time through Medicare funding. The value of a person’s life has been fragmented down to if they have worked long enough, have enough wealth and/or resources to deserve an organ transplant; and the required drugs. This is troublesome in the regard to should everyone have an equal shot to a prolonged life and quality of care. Only those who have the ability to pay will be put on the waiting list for an organ.
Define Problem
How can Medicare better handle the ethical issues faced with funding organ transplants and the medication needed? “Since 1973, end-stage renal disease has been the only condition specifically covered by Medicare regardless of age. In 1988, coverage was extended for 12 months to anti-rejection drugs, which had recently been developed. Congress gradually lengthened the cutoff to 36 months, and then in 2000 made the benefit unlimited for those who are at least 65 or disabled. The rationale for leaving out younger transplant recipients was simply that the money was not there.” (Medicare Covers Transplants, But Limits Payments for Anti-Rejection Drugs - NYTimes.com) There are cases where the government has actually paid more money because the organ was rejected