Final answer:
Obligatory care is based on the ethical and legal standards with respect to the patient's medical needs, typically linked to the severity of illness. Supererogatory actions consist of care that goes above standard duties, like acts of exceptional kindness not required by law or professional guidelines.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing whether care should be considered obligatory or supererogatory, one must look at the ethical frameworks physicians and healthcare providers are expected to follow. Obligatory care typically refers to the basic level of care that healthcare providers are ethically or legally required to provide,
which is based on a standard of care that is considered acceptable and appropriate for the patient's medical conditions. On the other hand, supererogatory care involves actions that go above and beyond the standard duties, often as acts of altruism or exceptional kindness, but are not required.
In this context, care would be considered obligatory based on B) Severity of Illness, as healthcare providers are morally and professionally compelled to treat serious medical conditions to the best of their ability, regardless of other factors like the patient's wealth or religious beliefs.