Exceptions and the elderly

Abstract

All attempts to ration health care on the basis of fixed categories, such as age, encounter the problem of exceptional cases. If exceptions are granted, because of excellent medical prospects for patients, then the effectiveness of establishing such categories is called into question. If no exceptions are granted, a number of other unhappy results seem inevitable. Among these are demoralizing caregivers and ignoring the unique conditions and personal preferences of elderly patients. So it is no surprise that much of the criticism of age-based rationing centers on the treatment of exceptions.