Scarcity, Choice, and Opportunity Cost in the Health Sector Kidney Dialysis Machines are used for people who have kidneys that aren't functioning...

Scarcity, Choice, and Opportunity Cost in the Health Sector

Kidney Dialysis Machines are used for people who have kidneys that aren't functioning properly. 

Without the proper amount of dialysis, patients will quickly die.

Some patients can get kidney transplants which, if successful, would mean they would no longer need

dialysis.

Dialysis Machines

You are members of the Board of the only hospital in a small town.  Your hospital has one dialysis

machine that can be

operated for 30 hours per week

.  You must decide who gets treatment.

There are a number of patients that require treatment and their needs are listed below:

Patient A: A 6-year-old child who needs

10

hours per week. They are awaiting a

kidney transplant expected to occur in one year.

Patient B: A 55-year-old man who needs

5

hours per week.  He is married with

grown up children.

Patient C: A 3-year-old child who will need dialysis indefinitely.  Currently he needs

4

hours per week.

Patient D: A 78-year-old female,

4

hours per week.

Patient E: A 7-year-old child who has three brothers and 2 sisters,

4

hours per week.

Patient F: An 8-year-old child who has no siblings,

5

hours per week.

Patient G: A 30-year-old female with 2 young children,

6

hours per week.

Patient H: A 30-year-old male with no children,

4

hours per week.

Patient I: A 30-year-old male with two young children,

4

hours per week.

Patient J: A 45-year-old man with no children.  He needs

6

hours per week but has a

brother who will donate a kidney.  This will take place in six months' time.

Patient K: A 65-year-old man who requires

10

hours per week.  As he is quite

wealthy, he has promised to buy another dialysis machine for the hospital if he is

still alive in one year's time.

Decide how you will allocate the hours in order of

preference.