The Adjudication of Utilitarianism and Rights in the Sphere of Health Care

This book is a monograph on the moral and social implications of a utilitarian-based system of health care within the United States that recognizes and takes rights seriously. Issues such as what constitutes the good in health care, the definition of a «right» to health care, the adjudication of the theory of utilitarianism with the issue of rights, and the idea of the patient’s responsibility in the context of utility and rights are critically examined. The primary intent of this book is to develop a theoretical and practical model that will address and adjudicate the internally coherent ethical theory of utilitarianism with the issue of rights while recognizing and supporting one’s right to accept or reject the health care offered by such a system.