Table 1

Map of the lower priority debate

ArgumentsCounter arguments
Pro-lower priority
The medical argument:

  • Counter 1: the no evidence argument

  • Counter 2: the no precedent argument

The policy arguments:

  • The behaviour change argument

  • The public support argument

  • No rebuttal

  • Counter 1: the rebuttal of the public support argument

The moral arguments (the harm argument and the self-respect argument):

  • Assumption 1: a link between unhealthy behaviour and responsibility

  • Assumption 2: a logical connection between responsibility and lower priority

  • Counter 1: the not responsible argument (the no control reason, the other causes reason and the value reason)

  • Counter 2: the role of the healthcare professional argument (the trust reason and the non-judgement reason)

Anti-lower priority
The impracticality of application argument (the time reason, the bias reason, the confounding factors reason and the foresight reason):

  • No rebuttal

The universalisation argument:

  • No rebuttal