"As Americans struggle with the dual problems of exploding health care costs and ensuring access to health care for the uninsured, health care rationing has moved to the center of the public policy debate. A prime example of this is the intense public discussion surrounding the proposal by the state of Oregon to provide universal health care at a price: the explicit rationing of which diagnoses and treatments will be covered. Focusing largely on the Oregon proposal, this volume examines a wide range of ethical, methodological, legal, and political issues that must be addressed by any serious program of health care reform. "

"The Advances in Bioethics" series is devoted to publishing collections of original papers and multi-authored volumes that advance the field of bioethics either by exploring new areas, or by taking new approaches to traditional areas. Although the series is published in English, its scope is international, and manuscripts are welcome from authors throughout the world. Divided into three sections this volume covers: Human Rights, Public Safety, and Public Policy; Practitioner Responsibilities During Times of Epidemics; Global Dimensions of Epidemics - each chapter in the book goes in depth to discuss the issues surrounding the topic in question and combines a theoretical thought process with practical application.