Discrimination, Equality and Health Care Rationing

Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

When deciding who to treat, those engaged in priority-setting and resource allocation in health care need to comply with their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

This book provides an in-depth examination of how anti-discrimination laws intersect with health care rationing in the UK. It critiques how existing legal frameworks apply to resource allocation, questioning whether and when utilitarian principles should be adjusted to incorporate anti-discrimination norms. The author offers detailed cases studies in the contexts of fertility treatment, public health and intensive care, highlighting practical implications and real-world challenges.

This is a timely legal analysis, providing crucial policy insights in the wake of recent global health crises.

Rachel Horton is Associate Professor of Law at the University of Reading.