Health capability: conceptualization and operationalization.

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Public Health Ethics

Background:

• Existing bioethics and public health ethics models fail to address the fundamental human desire for good health and the capacity to pursue it.
• Current theoretical approaches offer varied justifications but do not effectively capture the dual goals of achieving health and maintaining the ability to pursue it.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce a new conceptual model, "health capability," to address the limitations of existing ethical frameworks.
• Define health capability as encompassing the conditions influencing health and individual choice, aiming to balance paternalism and autonomy.
• Propose a health capability profile for identifying and rectifying health capability gaps.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of existing theoretical approaches in bioethics and public health ethics.
• Development of the "health capability" concept.
• Outline of a conceptual model for health capability.
• Presentation of a health capability profile framework.

Main Results:

• Health capability conceptually integrates the pursuit of good health with the ability to pursue it.
• This approach respects both the health consequences individuals face and their health agency.
• Health capability offers a framework for balancing paternalism and autonomy in health decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Health capability provides a more comprehensive ethical foundation for health care and public health.
• The health capability profile can be used to systematically identify and address disparities in health and health-seeking abilities.
• This framework supports a more nuanced understanding of individual health needs and societal responsibilities.