Distributive justice in obstetrical/gynecological health care : an application of Rawls and Daniels

Many women are not able to obtain needed obstretrical/-gynecological (OB/GYN) care due to an unjust distribution of health care resources. A principle of distributive justice based on the work of Rawls and Daniels is proposed to correct this inequity. Daniels posits a right to health care based of Rawls's fair equality of opportunity principles. He further maintains such a right could be fulfilled by a multitiered health care system. Empirical data derived from current OB/GYN care are used to demonstrate the link between such care and the preservation of a woman's fair equality of opportunity. Further data show why a multitiered market system leaves many women without OB/GYN care. OB/GYN care is divided into functional categories according to the goal it serves, either medical or social. A right to a reasonable median of care is proposed. The reasonable median would fund care necessary to preserve a fair equality of opportunity for all persons. It would be a strictly egalitarian, single tier system.