Medical ethics debate: access to NHS resources

The first London Intercollegiate Student Medical Ethics Debate took place at the Wellcome Trust on 28 March. Teams of three to four students from the London schools debated a range of ethical dilemmas in a knock-out ethics tournament. Teams were randomly allocated to argue for or against the motions. The winning team came from St George’s, University of London and we invited them and the other finalists, from King’s College London, to provide arguments for and against one of the scenarios used in the competition. Juan (a non-UK resident) arrives in the UK. He is not eligible to stay in this country. He has some contacts in London and earns money through drug dealing. He has persistent back pain and finally attends a London A&E. He is diagnosed with renal failure and, although not in immediate danger, he is in …