utilitarianism /yo̅o̅′tiliter″ē·əniz′əm/ [L, utilis, useful, isma, practice] , a doctrine of ethics that the purpose of all action should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people and that the value of anything is determined by its utility. The philosophy is often applied in the distribution of health care resources, as in decisions regarding the expenditure of public funds for health services.
