This book investigates the moral foundations of public health and health policy by questioning how much inequality in health a just society can tolerate. Authors Madison Powers and Ruth Faden, both senior bioethicists, move beyond traditional debates regarding access to medical treatment. They propose a comprehensive framework that evaluates health policy through the lens of social justice, considering the various non-medical factors that influence individual well-being.

Experts and scholars in the field of bioethics recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of social justice and health policy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for students and professionals in moral philosophy and public health.