Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.10.22
Which medical-ethics criteria can be used to prioritise patients or treatments when resources are rationed?
Three: medical need (help those suffering most), expected medical benefit (the treatment must actually improve health) and cost-effectiveness (scarce resources should produce the largest health gain in life years and quality of life).
| Criterion | Underlying idea |
|---|---|
| Medical need (Bedürftigkeit) | humanitarian concern to help those who suffer severely |
| Expected medical benefit (Nutzen) | a treatment must have a health-promoting effect, otherwise it is not owed |
| Cost-effectiveness (Kosteneffektivität) | limited resources should achieve the largest possible health effect, measured as gained lifetime and quality of life |
The three can pull in different directions: the neediest patient (most severe illness) is not always the one with the best expected benefit, and the most cost-effective use of a budget may skip the neediest altogether. Making prioritisation explicit means deciding in advance how these are combined.
Go deeper:
Wikipedia: Triage — prioritisation by need and expected benefit in its most acute form.