[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 95 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27817-27818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9543]


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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 of 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.

[[Page 27818]]

    The annual reporting burden is as follows:
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 250;
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1;
    Average Burden Hours Per Response: .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.

                                        A.12-1.--Estimates of Hour Burden
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                                                     Number of     Frequency of    Average time     Annual hour
              Type of  respondents                  respondents      response      per  response      burden
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Physicians (internists).........................             250               1          0.3674           91.85
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             250  ..............  ..............           91.85
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    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. Marion Danis, Department of Clinical 
Bioethics, Building 10, room 1C118, National Institutes of Health, 
Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number 301-435-8727 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.

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. E7-9543 Filed 5-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P