I came across this stimulating article on medical trade-offs. (No, I don’t routinely read the American Scientist.)

The question is why, since we buy good-enough furniture at Ikea (those lucky enough to have one around) and in other areas, why do we always go for the very best in medicine?

The concept of QALYs has been around for quite a while now. My biggest concern since first encountering it is that people with disabilities will get shoved by government edict into what the author calls “the southwest quadrant” where the cost is less but the benefit is less, too. But who can object to voluntary decisions to shop in the southwest quadrant?