Resource Allocation Criteria in Bioethics

The "Constituency Factor" states that...

• People who serve an important role in society should be given priority to receive scarce resources. For example, during a pandemic, governmental officials and healthcare workers should get top priority to be vaccinated.

• Scarce resources should be distributed in a way that saves the most lives. This means giving those resources to people who are most likely to benefit from them.

• People who live within a certain jurisdiction or boundary should get priority for eligibility to receive medical care or a scarce resource. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, New York residents were given priority to be eligible to receive vaccines in New York over non-residents.

• Former contestants on the show "Fear Factor" should receive priority for receiving scarce medical resources.

The Progress of Science criteria states...

• People who serve an important role in society should be given priority to receive scarce resources. For example, during a pandemic, governmental officials and healthcare workers should get top priority to be vaccinated.

• Only scientists should receive scarce resources because they're cool and I said so.

• Potential recipients may be excluded if it is thought that the treatment will not likely be successful for them.

• Potential recipients of a scarce resource may be excluded whose inclusion (in scientific research, experimental treatment trials) would hinder the progress of science/knowledge. For example, physician-investigators may exclude patients who suffer from other diseases that might obscure the research results.

The "Prospect of Success" criteria states...

• Students who receive the highest grades should be given priority for receiving scarce medical resources.

• Potential recipients of a scarce resource may be excluded if it is thought that the treatment will not likely be successful for them. This often means excluding recipients who have other health conditions or co-morbidities that decrease the likelihood of the treatment's success.

• Scarce resources should be distributed in a way that saves the most lives. This means giving those resources to people who are most likely to benefit from them.

• When all other things are considered equal, the final decision for who receives a scarce resource should be determined either randomly (by “lottery”) or on a first-come-first serve basis.

The "Medical Utility" criteria states...

• Resources may be allocated according to the social value of persons who need them ( the most “useful” people who are likely to be restored to their usefulness will be given the resources).

• People who wear utility belts, like electricians, the Mario Bros, Bat Man, and Rachel's brother should be prioritized when distributing scarce resources.

• Potential recipients of a scarce resource may be excluded whose inclusion (in scientific research, experimental treatment trials) would hinder the progress of science/knowledge. For example, physician-investigators may exclude patients who suffer from other diseases that might obscure the research results.

• Scarce resources should be distributed in a way that saves the most lives. This means giving those resources to people who are most likely to benefit from them the most.

The "Social Utility" criteria states...

• People who serve an important role in society should be given priority to receive scarce resources. For example, during a pandemic, governmental officials and healthcare workers should get top priority to be vaccinated.

• People with the most followers on social media should be given priority when distributing scarce resources.

• When all other things are considered equal, the final decision for who receives a scarce resource should be determined either randomly (by “lottery”) or on a first-come-first serve basis.

• People with the most money should be prioritized when distributing scarce resources.

The criteria, "Impersonal Mechanisms of Chance and Queuing," states..."

• We should just all close our eyes and point in a direction, and whoever is closest should receive the scarce resource.

• Rachel should receive all of the resources.

• When all other things are considered equal, the final decision for who receives a scarce resource should be determined either randomly (by “lottery”) or on a first-come-first serve basis.

• People who take things too personally shouldn't receive any scarce resources.