Needs-based health care rights
Jindal, B.; Litt, M.
Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society Official Organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society 148(7): 309-318
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-6921 PMID: 8816026 Document Number: 459474
Man's inherent dignity endows him with rights, and his objective interests give content to these rights. Rights are a subset of needs which are a subset of interests. Health care interests are defined in terms of deviation from species functioning; needs are those objectively important interests which impact opportunities. Society prioritizes needs according to the abilities it values, transforming the most important into rights, inviolable claims to society's resources. Rights inform man of the balance between his self-interest claims versus his obligations to fellow citizens. Health care rights thus facilitate just health care spending which protects vital interests without bankrupting society.