Allocating fertility services by medical need

Abstract

Infertility services often receive little or no public funding because they are perceived not to meet a medical need. This article argues that it is plausible to think of fertility treatment as a medical need. Medical needs deserve serious consideration in resource allocation. Such needs arise when there is a disruption of normal species function (disease), which results in a limitation of fair equality of opportunity. Fair equality of opportunity is important because it is required for a person's ability to live a good life. Infertility can result in a medical need because it can be a disruption of normal species function and can result in diminished opportunity, which it is highly relevant to the conception of a good life of many people. Infertility services deserve serious consideration in resource allocation.