Access to high-tech health care. Ethics.

Abstract

Access to health care has always been limited by personal and social economics. Poverty remains one element that correlates with poor prognosis in all varieties of cancer. Prior to becoming standard therapy, elements of high-tech health care are often widely available as research protocols, participation in which is generally available without considerations of insurance coverage or personal wealth. Any person may still volunteer participation in research protocols and thereby partake in high-tech advances even before these become standard therapy. However, recent developments in the conduct of research now may limit participation. Medicare and third party insurance payers proscribe payment for research project care and always have. Recently, more than ever before, reimbursements to physicians and health care institutions have been more closely scrutinized to reject all payment in research settings. In situations in which cost and availability of the new technology, whether machine or drug, limit participation, research entrepreneurs have made research participation available to only those who can pay for it. These and similar developments threaten to limit access to high-tech health care and to actually impede cancer research.