Healthcare is NOT a basic human right.

[Asystole RN]

If one were to read the Constitution one would realize that the Constitution does not grant anyone freedoms, liberties, or rights. The Constitution only protects freedoms, liberties, and rights from transgressions on part of the government. A right is something that is inherent to the individual, comes from that individual, and is maintained by the individual. You are born with such rights like the right to speak freely, the only thing that can be done to that right is to have it infringed. No one can grant a right to another, only limit or impede the exercise of that right.

Healthcare is a human invention that does not exist in the natural environment. Only through the work of others and through the taking of resources from one party and giving to another does healthcare exist. You cannot force someone to give effort and resources to another and call that a right. In the absence of human intervention the individual would live their lives and succumb to the natural forces which would act upon their bodies.

Do I think we should provide preventative care and basic primary care? Sure. Do I think that we can? Maybe. Do I think that healthcare is a basic human right? Absolutely not.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Ok, here's another point to consider. I currently working for an insurance company that handles Medicare/Medical patients frequently. The socioeconomically poor. My average patient has a minimum of 6 ER visits, I think our one that's hit the record that I've noticed has hit 67 ERs so far this year. They have a PCP, they have access to specialists and meds at no cost to them. (But costs the average person a significant amount of money). We have case managers and disease management programs available for them. Yet they refuse everything, they want their drug, or to be seen now, etc and feel very entitled about it. The amount of money and effort that goes to keeping them out of the hospital is astounding, and the reality is,you can't force anyone to be compliant. Yet it is almost impossible to dis-enroll them. It is infuriating when there at many others who would benefit greatly from these programs, but they are unable to because they are honest.

At what point do we limit the martyrdom of our money and our country before we lose it all?

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Speaking only from personal experience, every person I know who is against the health care plan can afford insurance. They also don't know ANYONE who can't afford insurance (Yes, I have asked). They are well insulated from the realities of a huge portion of this country.

Hi! I just wanted to chime in on this one. I have had times in my life when insurance wasn't available to me, and other times when it wasn't available to my diabetic husband. I do not believe the goverent funded health care is going to work out. I believe this because I have been on medi-Cal (for the poor) coverage is not the same, access is not the same, quality is not the same. I know people who have gotten very sick or died from things that likely would have been treated differently if they hadn't been on free government health insurance.Personally, I just think (if the government has to interfere) that an availability of affordable insurance for the uninsured working would have been more appropriate. Something that covered people with pre-existing conditions. But I'm, personally, not sure government should interfere at all because I don't think there is such a thing as a free lunch. Especially not a healthy free lunch.

[zoidberg, BSN, RN]

on a side note, I think gouvernement programs need to be as nit-picky as private insurance, when i worked in a pharmacy, it would take hours to get some expensive name brands covered by BCBS, but when i ran 5 brand med through medicaid they all go through with no co-pay! And the BCBC person who pays for their insurance would pay a 60 buck copay! Its like they dont even care how much money is wasted. Govt health should be equal to the average private coverage. If I went to the ER that many times Id be paying out my butt for the next 10 years, and I have good coverage.

[Artistyc1]

And, with any luck, you won't end up one of the millions of uninsured Americans that have nowhere to turn but the ER for any care at all.

[AtivanIM]

Ben- great points!

I cannot even wrap my head around having a human being suffer with a medical disease and debate why it is a "right." The real problem in this country is the prescription and medical supply companies that are charging ludacris amounts of money for the most basic things. Over $800 for a disposable forcept used in surgery? Why is this not enraging Americans? In my opinion, it is because they are not educating themselves on the issues before taking a stance! "Healthcare is bankrupting America" Well of course it is, because we let the real culprits get away with it. I truly believe that if someone with that stance had to go tell Granny that she does not have the right to die with dignity in hospice and now has to die without pain relief, because she can't afford it, they would change their minds...prehaps, maybe, even the bottom line might not be so important if they actually had to witness human suffering. The only group of people that I could see truly agreeing wholeheartedly in congruence with their religious beliefs or lack thereof are sociopathic atheists.

I don't even feel like the OP is making a valid debate and is only encouraging splitting of members on the site, but because there are many insightful comments, I wanted to weigh in on the debate. :)

[msteeleart]

I think healthcare should be a basic right. It is not fair that if a person does not have insurance and they are poor, their health is not important but if you have unlimited amounts of money like a certain presidential candidate, your health is a priority. It does say in the constitution that all men are created equal.

[Artistyc1]

That's fine. I don't know any other way, based on the fact that I was raised here. I'll keep what I have, too, based on the alternative.

Maybe, with some luck, you won't find yourself in the situation of millions of Americans that didn't expect to find themselves without insurance, and with nowhere to turn but the ER for care.

[Skips, MSN, RN]

Healthcare should be a basic right for all Americans. I think instead of focusing on illness, we should focus on PREVENTING illness. We have way too many people with chronic health problems, including co-morbidity. This is a problem. It needs to be fixed. A sick nation cannot be a productive nation.

[Skips, MSN, RN]

Maybe, with some luck, you won't find yourself in the situation of millions of Americans that didn't expect to find themselves without insurance, and with nowhere to turn but the ER for care.

Exactly.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I think lifesaving healthcare should be afforded to everyone when needed, but not the rest.

How do you pick what would qualify? I don't know.

I mean I don't think you just leave a kid bleeding out on the street because they don't have insurance, but I also think you don't allow people to abuse insurance and if physically able not do a thing in return for it.

[Artistyc1]

Not everyone agrees with that.

Perhaps only COMPASSIONATE people agree that the fight against universal health care is an uncaring, selfish thing.

[zoidberg, BSN, RN]

You know, when i was young and dumb, I was extremely politically conservative. I would still consider myself somewhat conservative. That said,

here is the predicament:

We HAVE to pick: We can do socialized medicine, but then we really need to regulate other things, like food, soda, etc, and we must at least attempt to keep people healthier than they would be left to their own choices.

OR

We do free market medicine. You pay for services when you get sick. If you want insurance, you buy it. BUT, then the government must stay out of it completely.

This is what changed my political beliefs the most. I do believe the government should help people with healthcare who need it, and being a logical person, i came to the realization that since the health of people is now a fiscal responsibility of the state, it has the right and need to regulate people's health. If a unhealthy person complains about not being able to buy a 65 oz big gulp, you can tell them that the govt can tell them "no" because if they get sick, they will be assisted, so it is the govt's right to do so. Even the argument of well I pay for my own health cannot be used, since everyone has the possibility of becoming poor, and in that case, you will be paid for.