Health, luck, and justice /

Segall (Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem) explicates the "luck egalitarian" theory of justice developed in response to John Rawls's work on justice. The author applies luck egalitarianism, albeit in modified form with some important constructive corrections, to important ethical and allocation issues that arise in the health care setting. The theory balances individual responsibility for maintaining one's health with a commitment to providing all individuals with a basic level of care. Segall ably defends why she thinks luck egalitarian theory, with important modifications to prevent the total abandonment of patients, provides a better solution for problems in health care allocation than other theories of justice do. This important, thought-provoking book is distinctive in defending the claim that so-called enhancement technologies should be made available to some as a matter of justice. Despite Segall's attempts to explain clearly the various positions on justice, those who are unfamiliar with these philosophical debates will have difficulty in completely appreciating this work Those who are up to the challenge will be richly rewarded by its insightful analysis. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students through professionals/practitioners. A. W. Klink Duke University