Transitional Justice — A Politico-Legal Approach to Health Equity

In light of persistent health inequities exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the authors advocate for applying transitional justice. a framework traditionally used in post-conflict societies to the U.S. health care system. They argue that transitional justice’s principles of truth telling, memorialization, accountability, and reparations offer a structured, justice-focused path to address deep-rooted medical injustices such as racial discrimination, historical abuse, and systemic exclusion. The article outlines how transitional justice mechanisms can be adapted to promote equity in medicine, from institutional apologies and community engagement to health-focused reparative efforts, offering an actionable roadmap toward healing and structural reform in health care.

In light of persistent health inequities exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the authors advocate for applying transitional justice. a framework traditionally used in post-conflict societies to the U.S. health care system. They argue that transitional justice’s principles of truth telling, memorialization, accountability, and reparations offer a structured, justice-focused path to address deep-rooted medical injustices such as racial discrimination, historical abuse, and systemic exclusion. The article outlines how transitional justice mechanisms can be adapted to promote equity in medicine, from institutional apologies and community engagement to health-focused reparative efforts, offering an actionable roadmap toward healing and structural reform in health care.