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Applying the Framework

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The Right to Health Care: Ethical Considerations

Part of the book series: The International Library of Bioethics ((ILB,volume 92))

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Abstract

This chapter deals with the challenges that the right to health care presents at the hands-on level of actual practice. Particular attention is paid to the issue of avoiding vertical ethical conflict between policy and hands-on delivery of health care. Macro-allocation is distinguished from micro-allocation, and an algorithmic approach to micro-allocation is outlined. The role of effectiveness is also discussed, as is the issue of the greatest good for the greatest number.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    International Labor Organization (2017).

  2. 2.

    UNICEF (2019).

  3. 3.

    Christian (2019), Gomersall, and Joynt (2011).

  4. 4.

    Wijdicks (2018).

  5. 5.

    Clearly, this raises the question how the right to health care should be understood at a global level. Arguably, such a right will exist if and only if there is a global society.

  6. 6.

    For a somewhat different critique of a utilitarian approach, see Moskop and Iserson (2004).

  7. 7.

    Clarke (2001), Wiese et al. (2012), Wlliams (1997).

  8. 8.

    Chapter 3, pp. 56 ff.

  9. 9.

    Chapter 1, p. 2.

  10. 10.

    Hyun (2002).

  11. 11.

    For the sake of brevity, this ignores health care services that were provided by religious societies and similar organisations.

  12. 12.

    Huei et al. (2017). Published 2017 May 31; Rich et al. (2018).

  13. 13.

    Huey and Eguskitza (2001), Moore and Semple (2013).

  14. 14.

    Stringer (2017).

  15. 15.

    Cf. Chap. 2, p. 22.

  16. 16.

    Langseth et al. (2018).

  17. 17.

    Ferraguti et al. (2015), Gorini et al. (2013).

  18. 18.

    Björnsson (2017).

  19. 19.

    Sarges et al. (2016).

  20. 20.

    “Anticonvulsants. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.” Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; April 18, 2019.

  21. 21.

    Toroyan et al. (2000).

  22. 22.

    United States v Holmes. 26 Fed Cas 360 (No 15383) (Cir Ct E Dist Pa), 1842.

  23. 23.

    Van Helmont (1662).

  24. 24.

    Medical Research Council (1948), Chalmers (2001).

  25. 25.

    This has sometimes been referred to as the trolley problem. For its classic presentation, see Foot (1967). See also Thomson (1976). For its relevance to health care, see Andrade (2019).

  26. 26.

    Patil and Shetmahajan (2014).

  27. 27.

    Cf. Andrade, op. cit.

  28. 28.

    Chafee (1919).

  29. 29.

    For more on this, see Chap. 8, infra.

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  1. Department of Philosophy, FRSC, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Eike-Henner W. Kluge

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Kluge, EH.W. (2022). Applying the Framework. In: The Right to Health Care: Ethical Considerations. The International Library of Bioethics, vol 92. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93838-3_4

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