Letztverlasslichkeit als Ressource - Der Wert der Palliativmedgzin fur die Volkswirtschaft

摘要

Expenditure for health care is assessed as a good investment in the economy as long as it is spent for the human labor force. Palliative medicine, however, causes costs for people who will not return to the production process. Despite that it would be wrong to assume that these costs are merely consumption. A functional economy in the postmodern era requires coworkers who are flexible, intrinsically motivated, strong in trust and willing to take risks. This moral capital of the economy requires ultimate reliability in life. Palliative medicine produces the trust that life can be lived in dignity irrespective of economic success or the materialization of risks. Consequently, palliative medicine is producing a value of high economic significance.