Materials

Issue 182: Günther, Stefanie: Exemplarische Aspekte der Ressourcenallokation in der Onkologie. November 2009

In recent years the field of oncology has become more and more a topic of public interest both because of the enormous progress in diagnosis and therapy of malignant tumors and of the consequent seemingly exorbitantly high expenditure rates.
By means of central basic data the author discusses on the one hand the area of conflict concerning costs, benefit and success in oncology; on the other hand Stefanie Günther analyses – on the basis of the allocating debate and by presenting some striking case studies – specific problem areas, like e.g. discussion of cost aspects with the patient, the access to innovations or the influence of age, social status and the quality of life.
In the resumé five aspects are developed, revealing that oncology is of vital significance not only from the medical perspective, but also from an ethical, economic and social point of view.