TY - JOUR
T1 - Dentistry and distributive justice
AU - Dharamsi, Shafik
AU - MacEntee, Michael I.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - There is a growing concern in most countries to address the problem of inequities in health-care within the context of financial restraints on the public purse and the realities of health professions that are influenced strongly by the economic priorities of free-market economies. Dental professionals, like other health professionals, are well aware that the public expects oral health-related services that are effective, accessible, available and affordable. Yet, there is remarkably little reference in the literature to the theories of distributive justice that might offer guidance on how an equitable oral health service could be achieved. This paper considers three prominent theories of distributive justice - libertarianism, egalitarianism and contractarianism - within the controversial context of basic care and quality of life. The discussion leads towards a socially responsible, egalitarian perspective on prevention augmented by a social contract for curative care with the aim of providing maximum benefit to the least advantaged in society.
AB - There is a growing concern in most countries to address the problem of inequities in health-care within the context of financial restraints on the public purse and the realities of health professions that are influenced strongly by the economic priorities of free-market economies. Dental professionals, like other health professionals, are well aware that the public expects oral health-related services that are effective, accessible, available and affordable. Yet, there is remarkably little reference in the literature to the theories of distributive justice that might offer guidance on how an equitable oral health service could be achieved. This paper considers three prominent theories of distributive justice - libertarianism, egalitarianism and contractarianism - within the controversial context of basic care and quality of life. The discussion leads towards a socially responsible, egalitarian perspective on prevention augmented by a social contract for curative care with the aim of providing maximum benefit to the least advantaged in society.
KW - Basic care
KW - Dentistry
KW - Distributive justice
KW - Health services
KW - Quality of life
KW - Social contracts
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036277975&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0277-9536(01)00174-5
DO - 10.1016/S0277-9536(01)00174-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 12144145
AN - SCOPUS:0036277975
SN - 0277-9536
VL - 55
SP - 323
EP - 329
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
IS - 2
ER -