Should All Americans Have a Right to Health Care Coverage
Should All Americans Have a Right to Health Care Coverage? Regardless of Socioeconomics
Lois Pullum
Ashford University
SOC 120
Professor Fandl
April 05, 2013
Should All Americans Have a Right to Health Care Coverage? Regardless of Socioeconomics
Introduction
The United States has the most expensive health care system in the world and some 45 million Americans are uninsured under the current health care system, and these numbers continue to grow. However with universal health care coverage everyone could enjoy equal access to health care, as a right afforded to them as American citizens. In a country as wealthy as the United States, there is no justifiable reason why Americans should go without health care and/or die needlessly due to lack of health insurance coverage. In this paper I will explore several reasons why our nation is uninsured and how using the utilitarianism approach of a single-payer system will solve this ethical problem within our society. Next I will apply the contrasting view of the ethical egoism perspective regarding health care as right to all citizens in America. Finally I will choose between the utilitarianism and the ethical egoism perspective to revel which of the two is closest to my own views regarding this emotionally charged ethical issue.
Classical Theory Utilitarianism
Individuals who agree that healthcare should be provided as a right to all American citizens often argues their case by interrupting articles of the constitution that they feel most support their argument. All Americans should have a right to health care because the Declaration of Independence states that all men have the unalienable right to "Life," which entails having the health care needed to preserve life. Health care is a right for all Americans because the Preamble of the US Constitution states its purpose is to "promote the general welfare" of the people. Just as all Americans have the right to an education, they should
Lois Pullum
Ashford University
SOC 120
Professor Fandl
April 05, 2013
Should All Americans Have a Right to Health Care Coverage? Regardless of Socioeconomics
Introduction
The United States has the most expensive health care system in the world and some 45 million Americans are uninsured under the current health care system, and these numbers continue to grow. However with universal health care coverage everyone could enjoy equal access to health care, as a right afforded to them as American citizens. In a country as wealthy as the United States, there is no justifiable reason why Americans should go without health care and/or die needlessly due to lack of health insurance coverage. In this paper I will explore several reasons why our nation is uninsured and how using the utilitarianism approach of a single-payer system will solve this ethical problem within our society. Next I will apply the contrasting view of the ethical egoism perspective regarding health care as right to all citizens in America. Finally I will choose between the utilitarianism and the ethical egoism perspective to revel which of the two is closest to my own views regarding this emotionally charged ethical issue.
Classical Theory Utilitarianism
Individuals who agree that healthcare should be provided as a right to all American citizens often argues their case by interrupting articles of the constitution that they feel most support their argument. All Americans should have a right to health care because the Declaration of Independence states that all men have the unalienable right to "Life," which entails having the health care needed to preserve life. Health care is a right for all Americans because the Preamble of the US Constitution states its purpose is to "promote the general welfare" of the people. Just as all Americans have the right to an education, they should