The concept of equity sounds relevant and useful; however, it rarely serves well as an effective criterion for allocating health care resources. For example, in any health plan, organization or society, there will be a wide range of demand for services ranging from individuals who require few health care services to those who require continuous care for life. No one would advocate the provision of services to healthy individuals just to get an equal share of publicly financed health care. Likewise, U.S. norms will not support the denial of health care to an individual merely because the number of services or cost of care has exceeded some predetermined quota. Even when payer policies or health plans DECLINE TO PAY, it does not weaken the ethical
