Are technology and ethics out of step? Oregon's experience

Spiralling health care costs have led many in the US to demand cost containment, either through damages in the health care delivery system, or through redesign of benefits and reimbursement schedules. In response to these concerns, the state of Oregon has made efforts to develop sustainable financing of health care by redefining the benefits package provided by the state to its citizens. The paper considers how this has created ethical and legal conflicts over reimbursement for some medical treatments.