Affirmative Action in Health

Abstract

This chapter contrasts two approaches to affirmative action in health, a Rawlsian (liberal) approach and the radical approach. The former prioritizes the medical needs of patients whose condition is owed to social injustice. The radical approach prioritizes the needs of patients who ex-ante suffer worse health prospects. It is shown that the liberal approach is implausible, whereas the radical approaches may ground a plausible and attractive health policy (such as medical research that prioritizes the medical needs of disadvantaged groups).