title: How 'decent' is a decent minimum of health care?
abstract: This article tries to analyze the meaning of a decent minimum of health care, by confronting the idea of decent care with the concept of justice. Following the ideas of Margalith about a decent society, the article argues that a just minimum of care is not necessarily a decent minimum. The way this minimum is provided can still humiliate individuals, even if the end result is the best possible distribution of the goods as seen from the viewpoint of justice. This analysis is combined with an analysis from the perspective of solidarity, particularly of reflective solidarity, as a way to develop decent care, which is care that does not humiliate individuals and maintains their dignity.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. r.termeulen@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ruud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: ter Meulen
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D033161:Government Regulation; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014481:United States