What Are Your Thoughts About The Debate On Whether He

What Are Your Thoughts About The Debate Regarding Whether Health Care

What are your thoughts about the debate regarding whether health care is a right or a privilege? How has the changing health care environment impacted your practice? Do all the United States citizens have the right to healthcare services regardless of their position, or is it a privilege for those who deserve it? This has been the United States debate for over a century, whether healthcare is a right or a privilege. Healthcare as a privilege arises from the limited resources since it requires money to operate, and in this case, is treated like any other commodity in the market.

This debate is facilitated by several factors, such as the role an individual believes that the U.S. government is playing in enforcing healthcare rights. Other factors, such as how people view rights and privileges and whether they believe healthcare to be something that every individual should have, play a part in this debate. Therefore, my thoughts on this debate are that healthcare is a right and not a privilege. The United States has modified the current delivery system and provides healthcare for its citizens in recent years. For instance, in 2008, former President Obama stated and declared that healthcare in the U.S. should be accessible to everyone regardless of socio-economic status (Maruthappu, Ologunde, & Gunarajasingam, 2013).

This meant that every citizen had the right to quality and affordable healthcare. Although the statistics do not show how healthcare is a right for every citizen considering the many numbers of uninsured people, the U.S. is taking a step further to making healthcare accessible. According to Maruthappu, Ologunde, & Gunarajasingam (2013), the number of those not covered in 2010 was over 50 million. Enacting and passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has substantially contributed to ensuring that healthcare is a right and not a privilege. Healthcare has been made accessible to many U.S. citizens, although not all of them.

One of ACA's objectives that have proved that healthcare is a right is its goal in improving availability, affordability, and quality of insurance coverage for all U.S. citizens through Health System Reform and Insurance Reform (Vincent & Reed, 2014). In recent years, the healthcare environment has changed, which has impacted the practice as a nurse. For instance, in the nursing environment, drastic changes have occurred to enhance medical care efficiency. There are better hospitals, more training programs, more responsibility, and a focus on patient-centered care in the nursing field. Although I am not yet working as a nurse, these changes impact my dedication as a medical professional as I am eager to better the health of the patients.

The changing environment that has contributed to more training programs impacted my clinical hours as it had enabled my skills and confidence to build. I am learning new skills and techniques that will be helpful in a clinical setting. Another change in healthcare is social media's use in increasing engagement in the nursing field (Lucas & Ward, 2016). Through this, nurses can share information and ideas, which has facilitated better communication. There are rights that the virtues of humanity entitle U.S. citizens or, rather, every human worldwide.

Exercise of these rights makes life better and enjoyable with dignity. Thus, among all the rights the humans deserve, healthcare is the most basic, essential, and crucial one. Although the United States mostly has a health insurance system, the right to healthcare is recognized internationally and should strive to make it a fundamental human right for its citizens.

Paper For Above instruction

The ongoing debate about whether healthcare constitutes a human right or a privilege remains a contentious issue within the United States and internationally. This discourse not only reflects differing philosophical perspectives on societal obligations but also influences policy formulation, healthcare delivery, and ethical standards in medical practice. The crux of this debate centers on the fundamental question: Should access to healthcare be an inherent right guaranteed by the government, or should it be contingent upon an individual's ability to pay, thus rendering it a privilege? Analyzing various perspectives, the evolution of healthcare policy in the United States, and the implications for practitioners reveals a complex landscape shaped by moral, economic, and social considerations.

The conceptualization of healthcare as a right stems from the understanding of health as an essential aspect of human dignity and social justice. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) explicitly states in Article 25 that "everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family," emphasizing the moral obligation of societies to ensure health services are accessible to all. Furthermore, the World Health Organization advocates for healthcare as a fundamental human right, asserting that access to quality health services is pivotal for achieving global health standards and reducing disparities. In contrast, viewing healthcare as a privilege aligns more closely with market-driven philosophies, where resources are limited and access is determined by economic capability. This paradigm treats healthcare as a commodity, implying that only those who can afford it earn the right to necessary services, which arguably exacerbates health inequalities.

The United States has historically exemplified this tension between rights and privileges. The country’s healthcare system comprises a mix of public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and private insurance, with a significant portion of the population relying on employer-sponsored or private plans. Despite advances, substantial segments remain uninsured or underinsured—a reflection of the privilege-based model. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2019), over 28 million individuals lacked health insurance coverage in 2018, underscoring persistent disparities. The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 aimed to bridge these gaps by expanding coverage, establishing the principle that healthcare should be accessible regardless of socioeconomic status. The ACA’s provisions such as Medicaid expansion and health insurance marketplaces sought to embed the notion of healthcare as a right, fostering more equitable access (Sommers et al., 2017).

From a practical perspective, the changing healthcare environment has undeniably influenced nursing practice and medical delivery. One significant advancement has been the shift toward patient-centered care, emphasizing respect, communication, and tailored treatments (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). These developments have not only improved patient outcomes but also required nurses and healthcare providers to adapt through continuous education and skill development. For example, expanded training programs have enhanced clinical competence, allowing nurses to handle complex cases with increased confidence. Additionally, the proliferation of digital health tools and social media platforms has transformed communication channels within healthcare settings, enabling rapid information sharing and peer collaboration (Lucas & Ward, 2016). This digital transformation fosters transparency, supports evidence-based practice, and broadens patient engagement, ultimately elevating the quality of care.

However, the debate over whether healthcare is a right or privilege also shapes ethical considerations. If healthcare is a right, then society bears an ethical obligation to ensure universal access, with policies designed to eliminate economic barriers. Conversely, framing healthcare as a privilege may justify rationing and limit access based on financial means, perpetuating inequalities. Recent legal frameworks like the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) exemplify efforts to uphold patient rights, mandating emergency care regardless of ability to pay (Bauchner, 2017). Yet, gaps remain in addressing disparities for non-emergency services, emphasizing the need for comprehensive policies that uphold healthcare as a universal right. A human rights approach further advocates for systemic reforms that embed health equity into the core of national policies, aligning with international standards.

In conclusion, while the American healthcare system is rooted in a predominantly privilege-based model, there is growing recognition of healthcare as a fundamental human right. The shifting healthcare landscape, driven by policy changes, technological advances, and ethical debates, continues to influence clinical practice and societal perceptions. Embracing healthcare as a right promotes equity, dignity, and social justice, essential for fostering healthier communities and reducing disparities. As healthcare professionals, nurses in particular must advocate for policies that uphold these principles, ensuring that access to quality care is not a privilege reserved for the few but a right inherent to all human beings.

References

• Bauchner, H. (2017). Health care in the United States: A right or a privilege. JAMA, 317(1), 29.
• Gerish, M. (2018). Healthcare as a human right. Human Rights Magazine, 43(3).
• Lucas, A., & Ward, C. W. (2016). Using social media to increase engagement in nursing organizations. Nursing, 46(6), 47-49.
• Maruthappu, M., Ologunde, R., & Gunarajasingam, A. (2013). Is health care a right? Health reforms in the USA and their impact upon the concept of care. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 2(1), 15-17.
• Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Wolters Kluwer.
• O’Rourke, T. W. (2017). Lost in the health care reform discussion: Health care as a right or privilege. American Journal of Health Education, 48(3), 138-141.
• Sommers, B. D., Gawande, A. A., Baicker, K., & McGory, M. (2017). Policy options to expand health coverage in the United States. JAMA, 317(16), 1649-1650.
• United States Census Bureau. (2019). Health insurance coverage in the United States: 2018. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2019/demo/p60-267.html