Treating the Jobless for Free

Siegler, a physician, and Schwartz, a former New York Times editor, debate whether physicians have a special moral obligation to provide free medical care to those unable to pay, specifically the unemployed who have lost their health benefits. Siegler, answering affirmatively, cites the special responsibility of the medical profession to society, the responsibility of the individual physician for his patients' health, and the obligation arising out of patient expectations. Schwartz argues that physicians have no special duty to provide service free to anyone who requests it

CITES · Duty · Health care · Moral responsibility · Obligation · Political science · Ethics in medical practice · Law · Medicine · Psychology