This article, in response to the Healthy People goal of eliminating health disparities, defines health disparities as systematic, plausibly avoidable health differences adversely affecting socially disadvantaged groups; they may reflect social disadvantage, but causality need not be established. This definition utilizes a human rights/social justice perspective, distinguishing these disparities as different from other health differences. The article further discusses the application of this definition to United States policy.
![Health Disparities and Health Equity: The Issue is Justice](/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Pic-scales-1000x600.jpg)