Some consider fair access to health care a moral right, while others disagree. We have defined the term moral right as “a privilege to act in some specific, intentional manner or to obtain some specific benefit because one is a moral agent living in a community of moral agents under a shared moral standard.”

• Is access to health care a moral right?
• Why or why not?
• Remember to respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts with feedback on their opinions and ideas.

comment 1

Fair access to health care is not only a moral right but should be an obligation as humans living on Earth. Restricting basic access to health care is not a question of basic principles of cost but rather the standard of living. There is a myriad of financial reports on the effects of mandated insurance but the matter of fact it, it is inevitable that we will face some health issues in within our lifetime. Even more so, there will be instances where accidents can and will occur, and when these do, without proper access to health care, we leave ourselves with the question as a society of whether or not we are moving in the right direction or not. Health care is a must because it protects us as a community in cases of emergencies within our families, it is not fair to be turned away just because we are not qualified financially. The moral ethics of nursing is then thrown out if we do not provide care. The nursing code of ethics specifically states that universal health care is a right according to Gaines (2020). If the nursing code of ethics is written in such a way to ultimately always provide care amongst any situation, access to health care be should then be a moral right.

Gaines, K. (2020, September 4). What is the Nursing Code of Ethics? Retrieved from https://nurse.org/education/nursing-code-of-ethics/

comment 2

As human beings, our health, along with the health of our loved ones is a matter of daily concern. Regardless of diverse factors, such as age, gender, socio-economic or ethnic background, well-being is greatly considered the most basic and essential asset society can have. On the contrary, poor health can keep drastically affect our daily living by preventing us from realizing essential activities, such as attending work or school, as well as keeping us form from focusing on our family responsibilities, and being able to fully take part if the activities of our community. Humans are willing to do whatever it takes as long it is guaranteed that those we care for and ourselves get to live healthily. In other words, well-being is constantly in our minds. As a result, I truly believe that health care should be a moral right, a human need, not only locally but on a global scale. However, in the United States, for instance, the right to health care is not something that is provided for everyone to enjoy. The current system makes it very difficult for the average person to have full access. The United States does not really have a health care system, only a health insurance system (Gerisch, M. n.d.). In conclusion, health care should definitely be labeled as a moral right due to the surrounding factors and the impact that it would cause on the daily experiences of humans, but it is not always an accessible service.

References

Gerisch, M. (n.d.) Health Care As a Human Right. blications/human_rights_magazine_home/the-state-of-healthcare-in-the-united-states/health-care-as-a-human-right/