Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 88, Issue 3, Supplement 1 , Pages S84-S88, March 2007

Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. 6. Economic and Societal Issues in Spinal Cord Injury

  • Michael M. Priebe, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to Michael M. Priebe, MD, Dept of PM&R, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905
    • ,
  • Anthony E. Chiodo, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI
    • ,
  • William M. Scelza, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Carolinas Rehabilitation, Charlotte, NC
    • ,
  • Steven C. Kirshblum, MD

      Affiliations

    • Spinal Cord Injury Services, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, NJ
    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
    • ,
  • Lisa-Ann Wuermser, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
    • ,
  • Chester H. Ho, MD

      Affiliations

    • Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.

Abstract 

Priebe MM, Chiodo AE, Scelza WM, Kirshblum SC, Wuermser LA, Ho CH. Spinal cord injury medicine. 6. Economic and societal issues in spinal cord injury.

This self-directed learning module presents a variety of social and economic issues facing people with spinal cord injury (SCI). It is part of the study guide on SCI medicine in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article focuses on the economic consequences of SCI, ethical issues in SCI, and the legislative efforts that have improved access and quality of life for people with disabilities. Costs of SCI include direct health care expenditures and lost earnings as a result of unemployment after SCI. Lifelong costs can be anticipated with the development of a comprehensive life care plan. Barriers to vocational reintegration continue to limit full participation for most people with SCI. Ethical issues central to SCI are related to the principles of autonomy and justice. As cure research becomes clinically applicable, the SCI community must work together to develop appropriate procedures to respect moral decision-making by all parties. Key legislation in the past century has resulted in important advances in the rights of people with disabilities.

Overall Article Objectives

(a) To review the economic consequences of spinal cord injury, including lifelong direct costs, life care planning, and factors affecting employment and (b) to identify current ethical issues facing the spinal cord injury community and review the advances made in the rights of people with disabilities in the United States through legislation.

Key Words: Economics, Ethics, Legislation, Rehabilitation, Spinal cord injuries

 

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.Reprints are not available from the author.

PII: S0003-9993(06)01561-9

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2006.12.005

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 88, Issue 3, Supplement 1 , Pages S84-S88, March 2007

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