Can the "Rule of Rescue" be rescued? A comment on Weyma Lübbe's "Rule of Rescue vs. Rescue of statistical life"

Abstract

In her article "Rule of Rescue vs. Rescue of statistical lives" [1] Weyma Lübbe elevates gut feelings supporting the "rule of rescue" to "civic judgments". Without doubt in a constitutional democracy ultimately the judgments and aspirations of citizens must be decisive. Yet, particularly in the field of health policy, the bias to overemphasize what are closer rather than more remote, concrete rather than abstract consequences, should be counteracted not supported. The utility forgone by observing the "rule of rescue" in health care must be held against it. Making the "opportunity costs" of applying the rule of rescue visible is part of the citizens' "health ethic information package" and not as such an attack on the "Rule of Rescue".