Health, justice, and responsibility

Mary Rawlinson

pp. 87-102

in: William B. Bondeson, Tristram Engelhardt, Stuart Spicker, Joseph M. White Jr (eds), New knowledge in the biomedical sciences, Berlin, Springer, 1982

Abstract

The issues raised by Beauchamp and Towers join in an important and powerful way. Beauchamp articulates clearly the problem of distributive justice facing us. In discussing the issue of the fair allocation of health resources, we tend to talk about our obligations as a society, and we are, I think, tempted to forget that our obligation is always in the end my obligation and your obligation. Our obligation is not anonymous, but personal. Towers's discussion involves just this issue. He calls us to recognize our own responsibility for our health or lack of it: physical, professional, and moral. My remarks deal for the most part with Beauchamp's essay, but mv conclusions, I hope, answer Towers's call.