Some consider fair access to health care a moral right, while others disagree. We have defined the term moral right as “a privilege to act in some specific, intentional manner or to obtain some specific benefit because one is a moral agent living in a community of moral agents under a shared moral standard.”
Is access to health care a moral right?
Why or why not?
Patrice Kinchen-Davis:
Hello Dr. Hayes,
Yes, access to health care is a moral right. According to Ghebreyesus (2017), everyone should have access to the health services when and where needed and that care should be provided without worry it creating a financial hardship. Unfortunately, that is not the case in the United States of America and other countries. Many sick people dont have access to the necessary care due to their economic or financial status. Many of these people suffer and die due to not having proper healthcare insurance or being financially stable to pay the inflated medical fees (Ghebreyesus, 2017).
Reference
Ghebreyesus, T. A. (2017, December 10). Health is a fundamental human right. World Health Organization. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/health-is-a-fundamental-human-right
Chole Ennis:
Hello Everyone,
This is a great discussion prompt because its a very common topic up for debate and it will effect us in some sense as healthcare workers. I believe that having access to health care is a moral right for every person because no one should pass knowing they could have been treated but couldn’t afford it. I understand there can’t be completely free healthcare but changing the system to focus on single-payers, essentially an improved medicare could not only improve it for customers but the healthcare system as well. With the current system, the free care that is available is being pushed to another part of the system. I think the issue isn’t only the expense but the mentality around healthcare, many see it as a privilege and if you can’t afford it then you don’t deserve it. I don’t think that having a right to healthcare means elective procedures should be as inexpensive as a check-up but more so that necessary medical care is not only easily accessible but affordable for all (Pies, 2011). Life is full of unexpected expenses but medical care shouldn’t be one of them.
References
Pies, R. (2011). Health Care is a basic human right – almost everywhere but here. PNHP. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://pnhp.org/news/health-care-is-a-basic-human-right-almost-everywhere-but-here/#:~:text=A%20right%20to%20basic%20health,and%20tummy%20tucks%20on%20demand.
