Soc 490 Week 2...Hold on to me as we go, as we roll down this unfamiliar road

Some people say that in order for one to fully understand their own opinion on a topic they need to fully understand the other side. That is my job this week, I need to defend the other side of the healthcare debate. My position is that healthcare is a privilege, while the other position is that healthcare is a right. In the Universal Health Care book, Helen Redmond describes why access to health care is a human right. Another author that thinks Healthcare is a human right and not a privilege is Gary Dorrien. Both these others point out valid points as to why healthcare is a right and not a privilege. 

One example that Redmond uses is people who are addicted to drugs. She says that people who are addicted should be provided the help they need in order for them to get their problem under control. She also says that treatment programs do not allow enough spots to help treat all of those who are addicted to drugs. Another example that Redmond uses is that some people only stay at their place of employment for their medical plans. If people are forced into jobs they hate in order for them to have decent medical coverage or any medical at all, then they are at an unfair advantage. If there was a universal health care plan then people wouldn’t have to worry about the medical coverage at a specific job because they would be covered no matter what. 

When looking at the debate of whether universal health care is a right or a privilege it is important to remember who is affected. For example if a child is born into a poor family who cannot afford to buy healthcare or cannot seem to find a steady job, then should that child be held accountable? If Universal Health Care is a right then the child should be provided health care no matter what.  As Gary Dorrien says, “Health care is a fundamental human right that should be available to all people regardless of their economic resources (p.100).” Dorrien is saying that no person should have it held against them if they cannot afford healthcare. He believes that healthcare should just be provided no questions asked.

While now I can see where the other side of the argument comes from, I still agree one hundred percent with my decision that healthcare is a privilege and not a right.