Abstract

A description and interpretation of Catholic Social Teaching is developed to determine whether it will support provision of general access to health care over the provision of some extremely expensive treatments, even when they are life-saving, in a situation in which health care resources are not adequate to provide all potentially beneficial care for all who need it. The conclusion is supported that in this tradition, justice requires that as a minimum requirement of a decent human life, persons be able to gain access to a system of health care that is as extensive as can be supported by the resources that can be devoted to health care within the system of social, cultural economic and political structures that are necessary for the common good of the society. These requirements are based on the conditions necessary to respect the dignity of the human person adequately. The right to health care supported by this conclusion would include access to a system of first contact health care that will provide a point of entry to the system of services available. When explicit rationing of health care is necessary, as determined by a broadly participative process that respects the responsible freedom of persons in community, an appropriate participative process could determine where limitations would be applied. Catholic Social Teaching can accept a decision to limit some extremely expensive procedures under these conditions