Making a difference: a qualitative study on care and priority setting in health care

Health Care Anal. 2011 Mar;19(1):77-88. doi: 10.1007/s10728-010-0160-x.

Abstract

The focus of the study is the conflict between care and concern for particular patients, versus considerations that take impartial considerations of justice to be central to moral deliberations. To examine these questions we have conducted qualitative interviews with health professionals in Norwegian hospitals. We found a value norm that implicitly seemed to overrule all others, the norm of 'making a difference for the patients'. We will examine what such a statement implies, aiming to shed some light over moral dilemmas interwoven in bedside rationing.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Decision Making
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Health Care Rationing / ethics*
  • Health Personnel / ethics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Norway
  • Qualitative Research
  • Young Adult