[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36567-36568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15372]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Physicians' Experience of 
Ethical Dilemmas and Resource Allocation

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment 
on proposed data collection projects, the National institute of Dental 
and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval.
    Proposed Collection: Title: Physicians' Experience of Ethical 
Dilemmas and Resource Allocation. Type of Information Collection 
Request: New. Need and Use of Information Collection: Health care costs 
are rising ceaselessly and there are currently no generally accepted 
way of controlling them. This study will access the experience of 
physicians regarding resource allocation in clinical practice, and how 
allocation decisions made at other levels shapes this experience. The 
primary objectives of the study are to determine if physicians make 
decisions to withhold interventions on the basis of cost, how often 
they report doing so, what types of care are withheld, and what 
criteria are used in making such decisions. The findings will provide 
valuable information concerning: (1) The practice if resource 
allocation in clinical practice, (2) the possible effects of perceived 
constraints on this practice, and (3) international comparisons on 
these two aspects. Frequency of Response: Once. Affected Public: 
Individuals or households; businesses or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions. Type of Respondents: Physicians. The annual 
reporting burden is as follows: Estimated number of Respondents: 250; 
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours 
Per Response:

[[Page 36568]]

.0.3674; and Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 91.85. The 
annualized cost to respondents is estimated at: $5,218. There are no 
capital costs, operating costs and/or maintenance costs to report.
    Request for Comments: Written comments and/or suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the 
following points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, contact Dr. Samia Hurst, Department of Clinical Bioethics, 
Building 10, room 1C118, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 
20892, or call non-toll-free number (301) 435-8713 or E-mail your 
request, including your address to: [email protected].
    Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60-days 
of the date of this publication.

    Dated: May 29, 2003.
David K. Henderson,
Deputy Director, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, National 
Institutes of Health.
Ezekiel J. Emanuel,
Director, Department of Clinical Bioethics, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical 
Center, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 03-15372 Filed 6-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M