Abstract

Health decisions are analyzed as a process of criticism, making a difference between critical attitude and aptitude, whose combination results in distinct political behaviors. Subjective and social motivations for the critical attitude are proposed. The answer to the rhetorical question "Who decides?" is the State, and a brief description is made pointing out the importance of the introduction of discussion subjects in its agenda by social actors. Recent historical events in our country are mentioned, entailing a possible State reform. Individual and social contradictions and conflicts are identified as one of the inputs to the formation of social actors and to decision-making, together with the diverse social levels where this takes place. The answer to the question "Why?" is because this problem is structurally embedded in social life itself.