Iranian Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine

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Zotero  

Habibnejhad S A, Moazzen V. Ethical Challenges of Restrictions on Citizens’ Health choices by the Government. IJMEHM 2020; 13 :306-318
URL: http://ijme.tums.ac.ir/article-1-6171-en.html

In recent decades, the concepts of healthy lifestyle and healthcare choices have been the subject of focus by healthcare policymakers. Together with financial, mental, and ethical reasons for citizens to have a free hand as far as their healthcare, numerous arguments based on the social aspects of healthcare have also been made by proponents of the necessity to limit these options by government, believing that in addition to personal consequences, an individual's healthcare choices have social ramifications as well. On the other hand, the definitions of the concept of freedom along with the impressionability factor of the individual's healthcare choices to government and society are other parameters that affect government policy in this area. By looking at the meaning of freedom from both the functional and opportunity creating standpoints, we have attempted to demonstrate that the optimal definition of freedom in the healthcare system is a responsibility based freedom in which it is although limited by the government, a person still maintains his individuality. According to the findings of this study, without establishing the necessary prerequisites by government and society, the freedom and equality of individuals in healthcare choices is meaningless. In this context, the special role of government is to create a balance between the individual rights and public interest as well as to cultivate responsible and well-informed citizens to protect themselves and others, building a society that would not allow the withdrawal or disregards of the right to freedom.