Essay 2 April 2023
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Western Governors University *
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Course
C787
Subject
Health Science
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by elizabethmgraff
In the United States, the healthcare system has been influenced by various philosophical ideologies, including economic, political and cultural factors (Mason et al., 2020). The capitalist economic ideology, which prioritizes the free market, competition, and individualism, has significantly inhibited the development of universal healthcare in the U.S. (Cebul et al., 2006). Healthcare providers, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies work in highly competitive conditions, seeking to maximize profits, which leads to high healthcare costs and a lack of regulation within the industry (Cato Institute, 2010). What’s more,
the capitalist ideology has created a belief that healthcare is an individual responsibility, with little consideration for the collective responsibility to provide affordable, accessible, and high-
quality healthcare for all citizens (ANA & ASPHP, 2010).
Another philosophical ideology that has influenced the U.S. healthcare system is political conservatism, which emphasizes small government, personal responsibility, and traditional values (Mason et al., 2020). The conservative approach has resulted in limited government intervention in healthcare, with a preference for private healthcare providers and insurers (Kliff, 2017). The opposition to government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, that provide healthcare coverage for vulnerable populations has led to limited access to healthcare for millions of Americans, this includes low-income individuals, children, and the elderly (ANA & ASPHP, 2010). This approach has led to an array of healthcare systems, with significant differences in access and quality of care (Mason et al., 2020).
The U.S. healthcare system has violated several ethical and moral principles, including justice
and beneficence (Mason et al., 2020). The principle of justice dictates that healthcare be distributed fairly and equitably, with access to quality care based on need as opposed to the ability to pay for that care (Kliff, 2017). The U.S. healthcare system has not met this ideal, with
significant disparities in access and quality of care for vulnerable populations, resulting in higher
rates of chronic illness, disability, and premature death amongst them (Health Affairs, 2006). In addition, the lack of universal healthcare coverage has resulted in millions of Americans being uninsured or underinsured, with limited access to preventive care and early intervention. Beneficence is another ethical principle that the U.S. healthcare system has violated. Beneficence compels healthcare providers to act in the best interest of their patients and promote their well-being (Mason et al., 2020). Unfortunately, the profit-driven approach of our country’s healthcare system has resulted in a focus on treatments and procedures that are profitable rather than those that are most effective or necessary, leading to overutilization of medical services, overtreatment, and a lack of attention to preventive care and public health initiatives (Kliff, 2017). As a result, vulnerable populations often receive suboptimal care, resulting in significant health disparities and poorer health outcomes.
In conclusion, the healthcare system currently utilized by the United States has been influenced by philosophical ideologies that have caused a lack of universal healthcare coverage and significant inconsistencies pertaining to the access and quality of care available to individuals. In addition, the US healthcare system has violated ethical and moral principles, including justice and beneficence, resulting in significant health disparities for vulnerable populations. Therefore, there is a need for significant healthcare reform that prioritizes equitable access to care, promotes preventive care and public health initiatives, and places the well-being of patients above profits.
References:
American Nurses Association (ANA) & Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors (ASPHP). (2010). Universal access to essential health care: The case for reform. Retrieved from https://asphp.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ANA_SPH_Testimony_May_2010.pdf
Cato Institute. (2010). Reducing livability: How sustainability planning threatens the American Dream. Retrieved from https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/reducing-livability-
how-sustainability-planning-threatens-american
Cebul, R. D., Rebitzer, J. B., Taylor, L. J., & Votruba, M. E. (2006). Unhealthy insurance markets: Search frictions and the cost and quality of health insurance. American Economic Review, 96(2), 130–134. doi: 10.1257/000282806777212141
Health Affairs. (2006). Ethics, health disparities, and access to care. Retrieved from https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.25.4.1053
Kliff, S. (2017). Why America is the world's most unusual health-care system. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/health-care/2017/5/5/15508358/american-health-care-system-explained
Mason, D. J., Dickson, E., McLemore, M. R., & Perez, G. A. (Eds.). (2020). Policy and politics in nursing and health care (8th ed.). Elsevier.
Sloan, F. A., Picone, G. A., & Taylor, D. H. (2006). The supply of charity services by nonprofit hospitals: Motives and market structure. Journal of Health Economics, 25(4), 740–757. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2005.10.005
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