Résumé :
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Fair management of queues for hospital-based services requires consideration of clinical need, but there is no information on public attitudes towards non-clinical factors such as age or work status as determinants of priority. Methods : We asked elderly residents of Padova, Italy whether, if they were awaiting cardiac surgery or an out patient cardiology consultant, they would give up their place in line for a younger or self-employed individual. We also elicited responses from a convenience sample of younger health workers asked to imagine themselves as elderly persons facing the same choices. The eligible response rate was 72% (443/616) About half deemed it right to give up their place in line for cardiac surgery to a 45-year-old. (...) In significant contrast (...) the overwhelming majority of non-elderly respondents refused to give up their places in line. Interpretation. The majority of elderly citizens were hypothetically willing to cede priority in accessing cardiac care to younger or self-employed persons, but this willingness was attenuated among the "young" elderly and more privileged respondents. Non-elderly respondents were much less self-sacrificing, suggesting that ageing baby-boomers may be more assertive about their continuing rights to health care.
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