Article Text
Abstract
In their recent article, ‘Why lockdown of the elderly is not ageist and why levelling down equality is wrong’, Savulescu and Cameron argue for selective isolation of the elderly as an alternative to general lockdown. An important part of their argument is the claim that the latter amounts to ‘levelling down equality’ and that this is ‘unethical’ or even ‘morally repugnant’. This response argues that they fail to justify either part of this claim: the claim that levelling down is always morally wrong is subject to challenges that Savulescu and Cameron do not consider; and a policy of maintaining general lockdown does not constitute levelling down, as it provides absolute benefits to those who would be worse off under selective isolation.
- public health ethics
- public policy
This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.
https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usageStatistics from Altmetric.com
Linked Articles
Read the full text or download the PDF:
Other content recommended for you
- Lockdown, public good and equality during COVID-19
- Why lockdown of the elderly is not ageist and why levelling down equality is wrong
- How to overcome lockdown: selective isolation versus contact tracing
- Justifiable discrimination? on Cameron et al’s proportionality test
- Canadian perspective on ageism and selective lockdown: a response to Savulescu and Cameron
- Mental health condition of college students compared to non-students during COVID-19 lockdown: the CONFINS study
- Pandemic justice: fairness, social inequality and COVID-19 healthcare priority-setting
- Reflective disequilibrium: a critical evaluation of the complete lives framework for healthcare rationing
- How patients with COVID-19 managed the disease at home during the first wave in Spain: a cross-sectional study
- Vaccine ethics: an ethical framework for global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines