Experts discuss ethics of health care resource allocation

The economic and cultural challenges of health care resource allocation in the United States were discussed October 26 at the DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy. 

“Ethics of Resource Allocation across the Lifespan" featured presentations by two national experts: Frederick Zimmerman and Mildred Solomon. A question and answer session followed that was moderated by the Rev. Julius Medenblik, president of Calvin Theological Seminary.

Zimmerman, professor of health policy and management at University of California, Los Angeles, said while the cost of health care in the U.S. is higher compared to many countries, American life expectancy is lower compared to other regions. He said changes need to be made in the economic system of health care.

"Ethics is about setting rules of the road to what outcomes we feel comfortable with, and that can be applied to the economics of health care resource allocation," said Zimmerman. 

Solomon, president and chief executive officer for the Hastings Center in New York, said there are cultural factors that prevent conversations about resource allocation. 

"Resource allocation is invisible, which causes us to lose the ability to make wise decisions," Solomon said. "We should be a society that is motivated by human flourishing." 

Solomon said more money should be spent on disease prevention and public health, as well as on the humane care of elders and the development of healthy children. 

Students, faculty, staff members and community members attended the event, which was held at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences on Grand Valley's Pew Grand Rapids Campus. 

The DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy was established in 2005 by Richard and Helen DeVos in response to a need for a forum where topics of medical and ethical significance could be discussed. Grand Valley became the host of this biannual medical ethics speaker series in June 2015, thanks to a gift from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation. The gift supports the continuation of the colloquy as part of the university’s efforts to provide outreach and education for students, the community and medical ethics centers worldwide. 

For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/colloquy.