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The role of the ‘lifestyle’ label and negative bias in the allocation of health resources for erectile dysfunction drugs: an ethics-based appraisal

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 18, pages 98–103 (2006)Cite this article

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 02 March 2006

Abstract

There have been recent calls for the re-evaluation of health resource allocation for erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs. This paper discusses sociocultural prejudices associated with ED and its treatment, arising from the link with sexuality, the perception that ED is a ‘lifestyle’ issue and the belief that ED is part of the normal ageing process. These views diminish the perceived importance of sexual health, extending subjectively into the funding arena as a ‘negative bias’. Empirical data are presented, which demonstrate that ED can have significant psychosocial consequences, and that ED drugs are valuable quality-of-life interventions. The assumption that ED is an inevitable part of ageing is also analysed and found to be questionable. Health resource allocation decisions for ED drugs must be conducted with an awareness of the ethical and clinical complexities described in this paper, and with the sensibility that negative personal value judgments (on the part of policymakers) must be guarded against.

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Acknowledgements

For comments on an earlier draft of this paper and for their invaluable support, thanks are extended to: the 2003–2004 Fellows in Medical Ethics at Harvard Medical School; Mildred Z Solomon (Associate Clinical Professor or Social Medicine and Anaesthesia and Director of the Fellowship in Medical Ethics); Professors James Sabin and Norman Daniels (Harvard Medical School); and Professor Gorm Wagner (Copenhagen University Hospital).

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  1. Department of Social Medicine, Division of Medical Ethics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    H Manson

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Correspondence to H Manson.

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Manson, H. The role of the ‘lifestyle’ label and negative bias in the allocation of health resources for erectile dysfunction drugs: an ethics-based appraisal. Int J Impot Res 18, 98–103 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901409

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