AlphaMED Resources · https://alphamedicine.uk/Resources/glossary/desert
Desert
Desert is the idea that people should get what they deserve, so that what someone receives depends on what they have done.
Summary
- In healthcare it appears in arguments that smokers, heavy drinkers or people who miss appointments should wait longer or pay more.
- The NHS Constitution bases access to care on clinical need.
- Lifestyle can still matter clinically. A surgeon may delay an operation until a patient stops smoking because the risks are lower.
Interview questions
- Should a patient who continues to drink be offered a liver transplant?
- Should people who take risks with their health pay more towards their care?
- Is it fair to treat a smoker and a non smoker the same?
Practise answering these with a mentor
Our interview preparation has you answer questions like these out loud, with feedback on each answer.
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More NHS hot topics, medical ethics case studies and medical school interview questions are in AlphaMED Resources, which we add to and update through the application cycle.