Take away prices and most rights to voluntary association, and you get something like national health care. Moral hazard is a well-known concept and inherent in socialized systems. But, rather than blame the system and call for its dismantling, a brilliant mind in England says:

[P]atients should comply with ten moral duties, which require them to look after themselves and others around them, and to use the NHS in a responsible way.

People who neglect their health and the health of others around them, or who misuse the healthcare available to them are draining the NHS scarce resources, says the researcher.

How will the moral duties be enforced in a system that provides free healthcare to all?

They could not of course be enforced and perhaps they should not all be, even if they could. However, recognising them would contribute to a vitally important ‘culture shift’ in the expectations that people have of the NHS.

Read the whole press release.