In Reply: Dr Peterson proposes expanding the
concept, from disease prevention to health promotion, beyond the physical
health domain to embrace the social domain as well. His proposal makes sense
to me. My intent, however, was merely to specify aspects of health that fall
well within the usual scope of medical practice as targets for the next phase
of health advance, namely, health promotion beyond disease prevention for
individuals.
Dr Portnoi suggests that an "additional burst of longevity" may follow
eliminating morbidity among humans. Striving for such elimination should certainly
continue as a medical ideal, especially among older people, for whom I agree
so much remains to be accomplished. However, I doubt that progress in that
direction will extend human longevity (50% chance of living) beyond 85 to
100 years.