NRLC on Rationing at the End of Life

The National Right to Life Committee held its annual convention in Pittsburgh late last month in Pittsburgh.  Burke Balch, an admirable speaker, looks at rationing elements in the health reform legislation. (CSPAN video at 47:00)





Balch naturally highlights the UCLA study that suggests more treatment does actually produce better outcomes.  Due to the limits of prognostication, we do not know exactly whom treatment will help.  Sure, looking at a population of decedents at UCLA and a population of decedents at Mayo, UCLA spent way more than Mayo.  And both populations are dead.  It looks like the excess UCLA spending was "wasted."  But UCLA spent way more NOT ONLY on the decedents but on everyone.  Some of those in this broader population were really helped.  While spending appears to have been "wasted" on the decedents, it cannot be eliminated just for the decedents.  It would have to be eliminated for a much broader population, for some of whom it would have provided a benefit.  Since there is no way to distinguish those whom additional treatment will help from those whom it will not help, UCLA gives it to everyone.  It is hard to say whether this is excess or excellence.