The disvalue of death in the global burden of disease

Journal of Medical Ethics
Carl Tollef SolbergMathias Barra

Abstract

In the Global Burden of Disease study, disease burden is measured as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The paramount assumption of the DALY is that it makes sense to aggregate years lived with disability (YLDs) and years of life lost (YLLs). However, this is not smooth sailing. Whereas morbidity (YLD) is something that happens to an individual, loss of life itself (YLL) occurs when that individual's life has ended. YLLs quantify something that involves no experience and does not take place among living individuals. This casts doubt on whether the YLL is an individual burden at all. If not, then YLDs and YLLs are incommensurable. There are at least three responses to this problem, only one of which is tenable: a counterfactual account of harm. Taking this strategy necessitates a re-examination of how we count YLLs, particularly at the beginning of life.

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Citations

Dec 7, 2018·Quality of Life Research : an International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation·Yvonne Anne MichelKim Rand
May 24, 2019·Health Care Analysis : HCA : Journal of Health Philosophy and Policy·Mathias BarraCarl Tollef Solberg
Aug 1, 2019·Journal of Medical Ethics·Carl Tollef SolbergMathias Barra
Jan 13, 2018·Journal of Medical Ethics·S Andrew Schroeder
Sep 29, 2020·Archives of public health = Archives belges de santé publique·Henk B M HilderinkRonald Gijsen
Dec 11, 2019·European Heart Journal·Adam TimmisUNKNOWN European Society of Cardiology
Jan 5, 2021·Public Health Ethics·Carl Tollef SolbergMathias Barra
Jul 3, 2021·Frontiers in Public Health·Latifa Mohammad Baynouna Al Ketbi
Sep 10, 2021·Nature Reviews. Cardiology·Nick TownsendPanos Vardas
Jan 12, 2022·European Heart Journal·Adam TimmisUNKNOWN Atlas Writing Group

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
amputation

Software Mentioned

DALY

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