'Justice in Health or Justice (and Health)?'—How (Not) to Apply a Theory of Justice to Health. (26th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Preda, Adina
• Is Part Of: Public health ethics. Volume 11:Number 3(2018:Nov.)
• Page Start: 336
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 2018-05-26
• Subjects: Medical policy -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; Public health -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; 174.205
• DOI: 10.1093/phe/phy008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-9973

Abstract

Abstract: Some theorists, especially egalitarians, seek to 'apply' theories of justice to a specific area or good, such as health, and assess the distribution of that good at the bar of justice. On the one hand, this is understandable, given that egalitarians are often interested in making policy recommendations and these would have to be area-specific. On the other hand, it is surprising in light of the fact that (distributive) theories of justice normally envisage the 'total package of goods' or an overall good as the distribuendum . This article aims to show that this approach is problematic at least in the area of health.