A human right is an ethical choice and moral belief belonging to all humans regardless of traits, status, location, color, gender, or belief system. Making the connection to a universal law, the United Nations Rights High Commissioner explains these rights are, “guaranteed by law” and protected as “fundamental freedoms” (OHCHR, 2016). The Cambridge Dictionary defines privilege as “an advantage that only one person or group of people has” listing examples such as having a high social position or wealth (Cambridge Dictionary, 2016). Those deserving of healthcare, according to the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, should go to all born free and equal. Using universal healthcare systems of other countries as examples, the U.S. should make healthcare a human right and a priority for all citizens.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights lists 30 protected articles with descriptions of each. Citizens of 192 nations under the UN have rights to education, religion, equality, fair trials, marriage, property, asylum, opinion, representation of their country, work, rest, and to live in safe and adequate housing (U.S. Dept. of State, 2008). From these articles, other countries have morally chosen to grant their citizens basic healthcare, or at least affordable rates for most (NY Dept. of Health, 2011). Mainly, “standard of living” (Article 25) is the article that justifies healthcare as a right, stating health and wellbeing as basic needs of individuals and
I strongly believe that healthcare is a basic human right; however, the reality is that health care is often based on privilege and/or driven by employer benefits. There are many factors to consider when discussing healthcare as a basic human right. All individuals, regardless of income, race, or status should be treated equally when it comes to safe, effective, and quality health care. Even though I believe healthcare should be a human right, we have to consider how this would be feasible among different populations and societies. According toMaruthappu, Ologunde, and Gunarajasingam (2012) “a fundamental difficulty with considering healthcare as a right is that this right, unlike many others, is dependent upon the resources of a society,
A right to adequate healthcare is necessary for a society to flourish. According to Levinas ' explanation, businesses assume that self-interest drives human behavior and if people want health care that badly then they will pay what it costs (Degnim and Wood 2007 page 6).Yet, if someone cannot afford healthcare and are denied it, then they are being denied a human right. According to United Nations healthcare is considered a human right (United Nations Article 25 2014). Well, the denial of healthcare or inadequate healthcare for Americans is a complex problem today. Healthcare has not been accessible to all American citizens, at least not until recent changes were made to the healthcare system. On the other hand, Belgium has had universal coverage for its citizens long before America. A large part of Belgium 's healthcare is non private, unlike the USA. I will discuss the healthcare system of the USA and Belgium in terms of the four characteristics of a healthcare system: cost effectiveness, portability and choice, quality, and universal care. I will also discuss the American healthcare reform as an expansion of the former healthcare system.
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, and housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control” (United Nations Declaration of Human Rights).The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights immediately brought about a change to the world as a whole. Not only did they decide it inhuman to keep health care from citizens, but they set out other standards of
As Americans we should all be afforded access to healthcare. Access to healthcare is an individual right according to the human rights amendment. The human right to health guarantees a system of health protection for all. The human right to health means that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which includes access to all medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions and a clean environment (What is the Human Right to Health and Health Care, 2015). However there are strengths and weaknesses to every healthcare system and the U.S. Healthcare system is not exempt. I plan to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the U. S. Healthcare system (What is the Human Right to Health and Health Care, 2015).
The right to health care is displayed in the founding documents of the United States. The Declaration of Independence states that all citizens have “unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
A sensitive topic in the United States today revolves around the issue of healthcare. Is health care a basic human right or is it just a privilege to those who are able to afford it? Health care in the United States is in desperate need of reform. The Affordable Care Act takes that stance that health care is in fact a basic human right and that everyone should have health insurance. When the term “basic human rights” is used, most people think of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This doesn’t necessarily mean that people should be forced to sustain others’ lives, or that they have the responsibility to make others happy because they have a “right” to pursue happiness. You are born with these basics rights that no
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” If these words are true then why should we segregate one another by a precondition such as Universal Health care? A system that should allow residents of a specific region the opportunity to have healthcare coverage. This paper argues stipulations that all residents should be given the opportunities stated in the founding documents as well as the right to suitable healthcare, economic productivity and, a base for a just nation. In 2014 according to the US Census Bureau 33 million people in the United States which equates to 10.4% did not have health insurance. Thus, possibly assisting with the inability to provide residents with lifesaving treatments and accurate care for those in dire need but were unable to receive certain previsions due to not having health care.
Healthcare is the improvement of physical and mental health through the assistance of medical services. The right to health care is an internationally recognized human right. In 1948, 48 nations, including the United States, signed the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “In this document it is stated that everyone should have the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of oneself and one’s family, including medical care” (Right to Health Care ProCon.org). People have the right to receive the health care they deserve regardless of the costs. It is a basic human right to be provided with the medical care and assistance needed to live.
The right of every human to a standard of living that ensures health and wellbeing independently of race, religion, geographic location, social status, and political views , is often viewed as a way of guaranteeing individual dignity and development (United Nations).
There are two type of human rights: those that are intrinsic, ones that we would still hold if there were no structured society or laws (for example, the right to adequate food), and those that are socially and politically constructed, meaning rights that exist because of conversation, agreements, ordinances, and laws (for example, healthcare) (Taylor, 2010). It would be hard to make an argument for health care as an intrinsic right but I would, and will in the next part of this paper, argue for healthcare as a political right. The General Assembly of the United Nations presented this exact argument when it included access to healthcare on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including healthcare as an inalienable right that should be provided to the people (Assembly, 1948). Despite its inclusion on this document though, the United States is among a minority of wealthy nations that do not provide health care to its people. We as citizens of the United States must come to determine what “counts among [us] as just and unjust” (Rawls, 1971, p. 11) and what “is rational for [us] to pursue” (Rawls, 1971, p. 11) as a nation and what we view as rights for our people. Shafer-Landau suggests several constraints of thinking that are important in this
It is not stated in the United States Constitution, but it is stated in the international bill of human rights, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),1948. Article 22 and 25 said that all humans have the right to affordable housing, medicine, education, and childcare. Everyone is entitled to a good quality of living, satisfactory quality for health and well-being of himself/herself and the family. Primary basic needs are essential, such as food, clothes, shelter, and health care. A person has the right to protection in the situation of unemployment, illness, disability, or old age person. In contrast, the conservative do not believe that healthcare is a right, they are wrong because people do not choose to be poor; it is the system which hinders poor people to progress and favors the wealthy. The conservatives argue that it is something that one work for, but how can a person work if all chances are not given or available for her or him in the social
There are few issues as controversial in politics as the topic of universal health care. While most people consider some sort of health care to be a basic human right, the question remains whether the government holds a moral duty to create a universal healthcare system for its citizens or the free market is expected to provide those services. The idea of universal health care refers to an elaborate type of health care system which allows financial security and health care to all of its citizens. It is designed around providing certain benefits to all members of society with the end goal of improving individual access to health care services. Universal healthcare is not a form of welfare and does not require coverage for all people for everything. It just covers the aspects of certain medicinal services. An individual cannot automatically be deprived of health coverage as long as that individual lives in the country that provides universal health care. I believe that Universal health care is a right. I know many people who have put off important procedures and checkups simply because they could not afford it. I have even experienced this first hand.
Human rights are universal rights that we are entitled to. It is a freedom that is guaranteed based on the principle of respect for an individual. As mentioned in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights are a “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all member of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world” (Kent, page 80). When asked what our rights are, we tend to get different answers and meanings. Some people recite the rights that they know; but let’s face it, not everyone knows all of the rights that they truly have. The rights we have consist of many things such as the right of having an adequate food supply. The right to
Keeping healthcare affordable for all citizens is important. Every person in this country should have the basic right to health care. The article Rights to Healthcare in the United States: Inherently Unstable discuss the rights people should have for healthcare as well as how Medicare and Medicaid came about. This paper discusses some points I agreed with in the article and different ways our country can improve health care.
Healthcare is widely described as the preservation and enhancement of physical and mental health, specifically through the provision of medical services (Notara, Koulouridis, Violatzis, & Vagka, 2013). Health affects everyone and is prominent in all aspects of one’s life because it cuts through a wide range of human activities (Gable, 2011). Furthermore, this brings about the argument on whether or not health should be considered a right or a privilege. According to Gable (2013), health is essential to the human condition and is a multifaceted, relativistic concept that is at the basis of the Human rights law. The Human rights law relies on two foundational concepts: firstly, that human rights are universal and indisputable, and secondly, that human rights surpass state dominion and obligate governments to protect, respect, and fulfill the human rights of all people within their jurisdiction (Gable, 2013). The Human rights law acknowledged everyone’s right to a standard of living that is adequate for their health and well-being that includes: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, social services, and their right to security in circumstances that are beyond their control (Gable, 2013). Moreover, because healthcare is essential to the well-being of others this further answers the previous question that yes, in fact, healthcare should be considered a right and not a privilege.