Health Care is a right

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I would do a poll on this, but I do not know how to - or maybe you need to be a premium member.

At any rate, I would like to hear some discussion on whether you feel health care is a right or not.

I personally do.

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Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.

I do too.

In our Bill of Rights and our Constitution, there are words to the effect that we all hold "certain inalienable rights....."

by definition, here's what that means:

some rights are inherited, and some rights are held or fought for by the people....

(see Wikipedia definition)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inalienable_rights

"all men are created equally free and independent; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

How many sick people are pursuing happiness??

How free are people when they are enslaved to a system that locks the doors when they need a surgery, or an eye exam?

How is this LIFE??

Yes, having equal health care for our citizens is a right....

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

The problem with asserting that health care is a right is that "health care" is not just 1 thing. There are different types of health care, different levels of service, etc. and you need to go further in your assertion and specify which specific health care practices would be included in that right and which health care practices would not be included.

For example (and there are many examples to choose from): Would you only pay for those health care treatments based on science? ... or ... Would you also include those health care treatments based on faith? ... What about health care practices based on cultural tradition that have no scientific or religious basis? ... or based simply on personal preference? I would LIKE a lot of things related to my health care (that I may or may not NEED), but does that mean society should pay for it all?

To simply say "health care is a right" and then end it there is a cop out. There are tough issues that need to be addressed, and stopping at that simplistic declaration doesn't accomplish anything useful.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It's a priviledge that everyone in our society should enjoy, because we can afford it.

I also agree with llg, that it's a complex issue.

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I can certainly make the argument of health care being a right especially when you consider the cost to society of people being unable to achieve their potential d/t health related issues.

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Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.

It's just as much of a right as it is to breathe....

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Specializes in Cardiac Surg, IR, Peds ICU, Emergency.

Defining health care as a right is pointless, just as engaging in an argument to say it's NOT a right is pointless, especially in relation to the discussions we have here. If you want me to say it's a right, then OK...it's a right.

And if we decide that health care is a right based on some vague constitutional language, then we can also say car ownership is a right. So is home ownership. Internet access is a right.

Gun ownership is a right, too. Anyone disagree? I own a few, and I support the right of EVERYONE to own a gun, even those Americans who might not like me.

I, however, don't believe that right of gun ownership obligates me to buy that gun for them.

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Specializes in ER.

When food and shelter are rights for everyone maybe then we can add healthcare to the list.

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The problem with asserting that health care is a right is that "health care" is not just 1 thing. There are different types of health, different levels of service, etc. and you need to go further in your assertion and specify which specific health care practices would be included in that right and which health care practices would not be included.

For example (and there are many examples to choose from): Would you only those health care treatments based on science? ... or ... Would you also include those health care treatments based on faith? ... What about health care practices based on cultural tradition that have no scientific or religious basis?

To simply say "health care is a right" and then end it there is a cop out. There are tough issues that need to be addressed, and stopping at that simplistic declaration doesn't accomplish anything useful.

You make an extremely good point. What level do we consider necessary for good health?

I thought about this for a while. And then I realized that education is considered a right. Everyone must be educated by law up until (I believe) 10th grade regardless of social status or ability to pay. And it is completely free to everyone - citizen or not.

However, college, university, trade schools, etc must be paid for by the student. These are considered above the basic right to education.

This being the case, perhaps health care could be in the same - basic, prevention, necessary, traditional medicine.

Anything extra is out of pocket.

I Honestly feel that your health is even more important than education (and I REALLY believe in education). There are a lot of people that are successful and have never gone past 10th grade.

But a person that is sick, or afraid to see a doctor for the expense of it all, or is having their wages garnished to try to pay off medical bills doesn't go anywhere...

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

However, college, university, trade schools, etc must be paid for by the student. These are considered above the basic right to education.

It sounds as if you and I have views that are very similar. But I think it is really hard to write good social policy on such a complex issue -- even if a majority of the people are pretty much in agreement on the basic principles. That's why I try to stay flexible and tolerant of the governments attempts to provide services to all. I doubt I could do much better myself.

I quoted your line above to point another complexity: Do you really mean that government should not provide assistance to colleges or to students who need assistance? I doubt you really mean that.

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It sounds as if you and I have views that are very similar. But I think it is really hard to write good social policy on such a complex issue -- even if a majority of the people are pretty much in agreement on the basic principles. That's why I try to stay flexible and tolerant of the governments attempts to provide services to all. I doubt I could do much better myself.

I quoted your line above to point another complexity: Do you really mean that government should not provide assistance to colleges or to students who need assistance? I doubt you really mean that.

NO NO NO!!!

I don't mean that at all.

What I mean is that basic education up to 12th grade is free to everyone regardless of citizenship or economic level. College and universities are not free...(although I could make a really good case that I think they should be to those that keep their grade point level at a certain minimum....but that is another thread...!!)

So I was drawing (in my mind) a comparison between education (as a right) and health care (as a right).

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The access to free health care is not a legal right at this time, BUT that does not mean that it wont be some time in the future. There are grass root groups and even legislators that will take the step to MAKE it a RIGHT to have health care for all, some time in the forseeable future.This train has left the station, hope that fair and just folks can see to it that this train does not get derailed before it gets there.

Here is my state's , health care proposal, which by the way, states that health care access is a RIGHT ;

http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/HealthyWisconsin/pdf/proposal.pdf

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