The common good in a secular society: the relevance of a Roman Catholic notion to the healthcare allocation debate.
This essay analyzes Roman Catholic social teaching on the right to health care and the legitimacy of healthcare rationing. It considers that discussion at two levels: (1) the specific warrants that undergrid key terms; and (2) the accessibility and applicability of those warrants to policy choices in a secular society. The essay concludes with a number of broader reflections meant to reserve an appropriate place for religious voices in the process of policy-making, as distinguished from its justification.
Lustig
B A
BA
Institute of Religion, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
D002410:Catholicism; D032921:Consensus; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000592:standards*; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000592:standards; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009014:Morals; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012935:Social Justice; D012945:Social Values; D028725:Theology; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life