Just Healthcare in an Aging Society: The Need for a Human Flourishing-Based Understanding

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Author(s)
Hewitt, Jayne
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2017
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Current theories of justice describe the arrangement of institutions for a just society, ones that seek to
demonstrate equal concern and respect for all. However, the link between theories of justice that guide
decision-making arrangements for intuitions and justice for individuals is not clear. This is particularly
evident in relation to healthcare, where egalitarian theories of justice fail to account for the outcomes
experienced by individuals. Introducing a case study that describes one man’s healthcare experience in
a large regional city hospital in Australia, this article argues that healthcare, particularly in an ...
View more >Current theories of justice describe the arrangement of institutions for a just society, ones that seek to demonstrate equal concern and respect for all. However, the link between theories of justice that guide decision-making arrangements for intuitions and justice for individuals is not clear. This is particularly evident in relation to healthcare, where egalitarian theories of justice fail to account for the outcomes experienced by individuals. Introducing a case study that describes one man’s healthcare experience in a large regional city hospital in Australia, this article argues that healthcare, particularly in an aging society, must move beyond the biomedical understanding of health, and seek more broadly to promote human flourishing. With a foundation in virtue ethics, the article then proposes an alternate understanding of justice in healthcare that addresses the highlighted limitations of egalitarian theories.
View less >
View more >Current theories of justice describe the arrangement of institutions for a just society, ones that seek to demonstrate equal concern and respect for all. However, the link between theories of justice that guide decision-making arrangements for intuitions and justice for individuals is not clear. This is particularly evident in relation to healthcare, where egalitarian theories of justice fail to account for the outcomes experienced by individuals. Introducing a case study that describes one man’s healthcare experience in a large regional city hospital in Australia, this article argues that healthcare, particularly in an aging society, must move beyond the biomedical understanding of health, and seek more broadly to promote human flourishing. With a foundation in virtue ethics, the article then proposes an alternate understanding of justice in healthcare that addresses the highlighted limitations of egalitarian theories.
View less >
Journal Title
Asia Pacific Journal of Health Law & Ethics
Volume
10
Issue
2
Publisher URI
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Ewha Institute for Biomedical Law & Ethics. Use, distribution and reproduction in any medium of the article are permitted, provided the original work is properly cited. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified
Law and Society