Overview

The rhetoric of ""needs"" has been used to legitimate all major turns in UK health policy since 1936. This study identifies the ethical, policy and technical issues arising from the concept of needs. In the first part a theory of needs is developed, which takes into account both the philosophical traditions and the practical problems arising in daily health care. In the second part, health systems throughout the world are described and compared, addressing ethical as well as economical questions. This work's interdisciplinary approach should make it useful reading not only for those interested in or employed in the health care sector but also students of philosophy.

Full Product Details

Author:   W.R. Sheaff
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 13.80cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.453kg
ISBN:  

9780415101110

ISBN 10:   0415101115
Pages:   240
Publication Date:   22 August 1996
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

1 WHY A THEORY OF NEEDS? 1 Needs and health policy 2 The language and logic of ‘needs’ 2 WHAT KIND OF THEORY OF NEEDS? 1 Needs in ethical theory 2 Needs and naturalism 3 Needs and drives 4 Newton and the neuron 3 NEEDS, NATURE AND SOCIETY 1 Drives and their structure 2 Drives, actions and capacities 3 Drives, reason and needs 4 Needs and relativism 4 HEALTH NEEDS 1 Needs and health 2 Personal and population health needs 3 Needs for healthcare 4 Needless healthcare? 5 DOES DOCTOR KNOW BEST? 1 Doctors and patients 2 Patients’ needs 3 Clinical autonomy 6 NEEDS AND NORMALITY 1 Medical models of minds 2 Disorders and disorder 3 Involuntary healthcare 7 DILEMMAS FOR HEALTH WORKERS 1 Needs and ‘business ethics’ in healthcare 2 Scarcity 8 WHAT KIND OF HEALTH SYSTEM? 1 Comparing health systems 2 Health needs and markets 3 Health system design: social engineering 9 NEEDS, HEALTH AND MORALITY

Reviews

'This book will challenge those involved in health policy to look critically at designing a system that meets health needs. It is also a useful contribution to healthcare ethics in the undeveloped area of theories of need.' - Contact

Author Information

Rod Sheaff is a Fellow at the Health Services Management Unit, Manchester University. He has had working, research and consultancy experience both in the British NHS and many overseas health systems. He is the author of Marketing for Health Services (1991).

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