Assignment 2 Discussion: Ethical Considerations For H 561514 ✓ Solved

Assignment 2 Discussionethical Considerations For Healthcare Reformi

In this assignment, you will explore the ethical issues present in the healthcare system. Research the ethical issues of reforming the healthcare systems in the United States and at least one other country using your textbook, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet. Respond to the following: Does the government have an ethical obligation to provide some form of healthcare for its citizens? Identify the key features of the Affordable Care Act in the United States as well as the key features of healthcare proposals or systems in one other country. In what ways do these features reflect a continuation of the existing system? In what ways would they represent a significant overhaul? Write your initial response a minimum of 200–300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. By Sunday, September 4, 2016, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through Wednesday, September 7, 2016, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. Cover the following items in your posts: Provide a statement of clarification. Provide a point of view with rationale. Challenge a point of discussion, or draw a relationship between one or more points of the discussion.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Title: Ethical Considerations for Healthcare Reform: A Comparative Analysis of the United States and Canada

Introduction

Healthcare reform remains a pivotal topic in global health policy, raising significant ethical considerations about the role of government in ensuring equitable access to healthcare. This paper explores the ethical obligations of governments to provide healthcare, focusing on the United States' Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system. By analyzing the key features of these systems, the paper examines how they reflect continuity or represent significant reforms within their respective contexts.

Ethical Obligation of Government to Provide Healthcare

The question of whether governments have an ethical obligation to provide healthcare hinges on principles of justice, equity, and human dignity. Rawlsian justice emphasizes fairness in access, suggesting that societal institutions, including governments, bear responsibility for ensuring health equity (Rawls, 1971). From a utilitarian perspective, providing access to healthcare maximizes overall well-being, supporting government intervention to reduce suffering and promote societal productivity (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). In democracies, the moral obligation often aligns with citizens’ rights to health, emphasizing the state's role in protecting vulnerable populations (Daniels, 2001). Thus, ethically, governments have a duty to promote health equity, which underpins healthcare reform policies.

Features of the Affordable Care Act

The ACA, enacted in 2010, aimed to expand healthcare coverage, improve affordability, and reduce disparities. Key features include the individual mandate requiring everyone to have insurance, the creation of health insurance exchanges, Medicaid expansion, and protections for pre-existing conditions (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). These features sought to build upon existing private insurance systems, shifting towards more regulated coverage while maintaining market-based elements. The ACA’s structure reflects a continuation of the privatized system, with significant reforms aimed at reducing gaps and promoting universal coverage.

Healthcare Proposals in Canada

Canada’s healthcare system, known as Medicare, operates as a publicly funded, single-payer system that guarantees access to essential services to all residents. Key features include government-financed services, provincial oversight, and billing directly to the government (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2019). Compared to the U.S., Canada's system represents a significant overhaul of market-oriented healthcare, emphasizing equity and universality. It reflects a broader societal commitment to health as a right rather than a privilege, thus deviating markedly from the fragmented U.S. approach.

Continuity and Overhaul

The ACA represents both continuity and reform; it preserves private insurance while introducing mandates and exchanges, representing a middle ground. In contrast, Canada's system signifies a fundamental overhaul, transitioning from a predominantly private system to a universal, publicly funded model. These differences highlight varying ethical and policy priorities: one balancing market principles with reforms, the other emphasizing social justice and equitable access.

Conclusion

Both systems demonstrate ethical perspectives on health as a right and government responsibility. The ACA continues existing structures with reforms aimed at fairness, whereas Canada's system embodies a more comprehensive overhaul grounded in social justice. Understanding these features fosters informed debates on healthcare ethics and policy reforms.

References

• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of biomedical ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2019). How Canadian health care systems work. CIHI.
• Daniels, N. (2001). Justice, health, and healthcare. Cambridge University Press.
• Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Harvard University Press.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Summary of the Affordable Care Act. HHS.gov.