Northeastern law professor Wendy Parmet assesses how a so-called right to health care would be translated into reality, and weighs in on the intensifying debate in Congress over universal—and less costly—health care

1.Is a Constitutional “right” to health care a magic bullet?

2.Is a right to health care something you can bring to court? Should we expect complex health-care decisions to be made by the judiciary?

3.A “right” to health care has a powerful rhetorical punch, but would such a right solve health disparities, or free up more funding for sweeping health reform?

4.Massachusetts’ universal health care law, enacted in 2006, is often cited as health care that works. Does it?

5.Every politically viable solution to our health-care problem appears to be flawed. Should this stop those who would reform health care?