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Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
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Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

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In defence of ageism

A B Shaw1

  • 1Bradford Royal Infirmary, West Yorkshire.

Journal of Medical Ethics
|September 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Healthcare allocation should prioritize younger individuals, as age is an objective factor in rationing. This approach, while potentially seen as ageist, is argued as just and practical for resource distribution.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Health Policy
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Healthcare resource allocation presents ethical challenges.
  • Current rationing methods may not adequately address age as a factor.
  • The concept of ageism in healthcare policy requires critical examination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for preferential healthcare allocation to younger patients.
  • To establish age as a just and objective criterion in healthcare rationing.
  • To address and refute arguments against age-based healthcare policies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ethical arguments surrounding age and healthcare.
  • Examination of existing healthcare rationing strategies.
  • Discussion of the practical implementation of age-related allocation criteria.

Main Results:

  • Age is presented as an objective and justifiable factor in healthcare rationing.
  • Arguments against ageism in this context are systematically addressed.
  • The study illustrates the impact of age on current rationing methods.

Conclusions:

  • Preferential allocation of healthcare to younger patients is ethically justifiable and practical.
  • Age-based policies are currently in use and warrant open discussion.
  • An age-related criterion offers an objective approach to healthcare resource distribution.

Keywords:
Analytical ApproachHealth Care and Public Health

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