Resolving the Conflict: Clarifying ‘Vulnerability’ in Health Care Ethics

• DOI: 10.1353/ken.2014.0005
• Publication Date: 2014-04-13T09:02:31Z
• Authors: Angela K. Martin; Nicolas Tavaglione; Samia Hurst
• Keywords: Ascription; Vulnerability

Vulnerability has been extensively discussed in medical research, but less so health care. Thus, who the vulnerable this domain are still remains an open question. One difficulty their identification is due to general criticism that vulnerability not a property of only some, rather everyone. By presenting philosophical analysis conditions ascription, we show these seemingly irreconcilable understandings contradictory. Rather, they interdependent: refer same concept with different likelihoods manifestation. We argue living beings relies on having certain types interests. In care, those individuals particularly more likely have interests unjustly considered. They should be afforded special protection order receive what everyone, which fail receive.