Resource Allocation:
Case 1 Discussion
While it is likely that this patient will require additional counseling
and support services to improve his health outcomes, replacing the heart
value is not "futile" in this case (see the topic page on Futility
for further discussion). It is also likely that the medical team is using
biased criteria to judge "wasted" vs. "properly used" medical resources.
Thoughtful discussion may provide an opportunity for the team to voice their
frustration and think through a treatment plan that will maximally support
this patient's recovery.
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