The Founding Fathers declared that we are "endowed with unalienablerights, among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (1)There is no question that in order to have life we must have health.Yet there has been only limited constitutional language specific tothis right.
The "crueland unusual punishment" clause of the 8th Amendment to the Constitutionhas been interpreted by the Supreme Court to require prisoners, as partof their humane treatment during detention, to be guaranteed the rightto health care. (2)
Currently prisoners are the only group who are specifically granted the right to health care.