Maggie Mahar expounds on Shadowfax’s assertion that health care is a moral obligation, rather than a right.

It’s an excellent, detailed piece that you should read in its entirety.

Re-casting the question in terms of “obligations” rather than “rights” is more than just semantics. It lessens the entitlement attitude that patients have towards health services, and that’s important.

She also makes this point in the comments:

If we use the language of “rights” we risk losing supporters who would agree with us on purely humanitarian or compassionate terms.

Speaking personally, that’s true. Those who speak of health care in definitive self-righteous terms completely alienate a significant number of doctors, and only serves to harm their cause.