title: The common good in a secular society: the relevance of a Roman Catholic notion to the healthcare allocation debate.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Religion, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lustig
mesh_terms: 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