The “triangular model” applied to drug eluting stents (DES)

Objective: The work intends to assess, within an HTA process, the ethical consequences of implementing DES by the “triangular model”. Methods: The work is conducted with reference to the National Library of Medicine data. Results: The European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUNetHTA) has assessed, within an HTA process, the ethical consequences of implementing DES by Core model (EUNetHTA, 2007), a catalogue of questions, primarily based on Björn Hoffman’s (2005). Nevertheless, the methodological approaches for integrating ethical analysis into HTA are various. Amongst them, there is the “triangular model”, that is centred on a substantial conception of human person (Sgreccia, 2007). Its methodology comprises three steps of analysis: 1. data collection, i.e. an in-depth study of all facts/data, including qualitative and relational ones; 2. anthropological aspects, i.e. the analysis of eventual values at stake, related to human life, integrity and dignity; 3. ethical-normative evaluation, i.e. the practical choices that should be made. Moreover, this model presumes a normative framework, that consists of four operative criteria: 1. the defence of physical human life; 2. freedom-responsibility; 3. therapeutic criterion; 4. sociality-subsidiarity. Conclusions: The “triangular model” on Drug Eluting Stents (DES) could be applied as possible alternative approach for integrating ethical analysis into HTA.