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This paper is a response to John Harris' provocative 'Justice and Equal Opportunities in Health Care'. The aim of this short response is to locate the difference between Harris and me within a broader debate about the nature of reasons for action. I argue that Harris is appealing to a desire-based conception of normative reasons. I highlight some of the deficiencies of a desire-based conception of reasons, and contrast it with a value-based account.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Bioethics

Publication Date

10/1999

Volume

13

Pages

405 - 413

Keywords

Analytical Approach, Health Care and Public Health, Delivery of Health Care, Ethical Theory, Ethics, Health Care Rationing, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Life Support Care, Patient Selection, Prognosis, Quality of Life, Resource Allocation, Social Justice, Treatment Outcome, Value of Life