The growing cost of the health care systems in Western countries and the need for reform of those systems has once again sparked a political debate about how to distribute health fairly. The...Show moreThe growing cost of the health care systems in Western countries and the need for reform of those systems has once again sparked a political debate about how to distribute health fairly. The current trend is to put more emphasis on personal responsibility when it comes to the subject of health. This thesis examines different normative theories on how to distribute health fairly. The question is raised of whether there should be put more emphasis on the personal responsibility people have for their health in a fair distribution of health. The conclusion of this thesis is that personal responsibility should not play a role when it comes to a just distribution of health. The punishment for making a wrong decision is too high when making personal responsibility the main criterion for the distribution of health.Show less