Rationing by fault

This article argues against the proposition that people should be denied medical treatment on the basis that they are responsible for their ill health. While it accepts that people can cause their own ill health, it argues that NHS staff are not in a position to determine the extent to which a person can be said to have contributed to their ill health in a blameworthy way. Further, that ill health is often a result of multiple causes, and it is unfair to isolate the patient to bear the costs. The article concludes by promoting a vision of relational health whereby we recognize our responsibilities to produce healthy communities and relationships.