Health Care is a human right, Holy See tells UN

[Viki63]

Health care access is a human right, not just a matter of philanthropy, the Holy See told the United Nations last Friday.

“All our efforts must be directed to ensure human dignity, quality of health and life and to the building of a better world for the generations to come,” said Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, the Holy See’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/health-care-for-all-isnt-optional-vatican-tells-un-74255/

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[RomanoAmerio]

Dear Viki,

Thank you for sharing this.

It is certainly true that health care cannot be treated as a simple commodity or business.

At the same time, it is also true that government-led health care programmes tend to be inefficient and associated with dangerous delays in essential care in some cases.

I shall have to study the matter further, as my own involvement in health care is purely at an academic level.

 

[Ginny89]

Why do we have to frame everything in terms of individual entitlements known as “rights”? Why can’t we just have a conversation about what is right and wrong, good or bad?

I believe it is either unkind, irresponsible and even wrong to fail or refuse to provide healthcare to those who cannot afford it on their own in a society that is able to do so.

But I have a hard time thinking about a “right to healthcare”. When I think of “rights”, I think of something that is owned by the individual to the extent that he can sue someone for it. I think of life and limb, personal liberty, private property. Not something like healthcare even though I think it IS a moral issue.

Why can’t we just talk of societal or collective responsibilities and right or wrong with regard to healthcare? This is something we have a responsibility to do for one another and it is morally wrong not to do it when we can, is how I see it. We are each other’s keeper. Not: this is something an individual is entitled to and can sue someone for it??

I dislike the language of rights in general because I think it is grossly misused.

We have very few genuine individual entitlements in my view. But there are many responsibilities that should come from being part of a society designed to care for individuals as well as guard the common good.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Too many people today have this notion that if they “want” something then they have a “right” to it. Well, the Second Amendment assures me the right to keep and bear arms. Does that mean that I should demand the Government provide me with a gun?

Healthcare may or may not be a “right.” But the question facing America is: Who is going to pay for this Healthcare? Is the Government obligated to pay for it? IMHO, Healthcare is so expensive because insurance companies foot the bill. If you took insurance companies out of the equation The price of Healthcare would have to go down; otherwise no one could afford it.

 

[shockerfan]

Why do we have to frame everything in terms of individual entitlements known as “rights”? Why can’t we just have a conversation about what is right and wrong, good or bad?

I believe it is either unkind, irresponsible and even wrong to fail or refuse to provide healthcare to those who cannot afford it on their own in a society that is able to do so.

But I have a hard time thinking about a “right to healthcare”. When I think of “rights”, I think of something that is owned by the individual to the extent that he can sue someone for it. I think of life and limb, personal liberty, private property. Not something like healthcare even though I think it IS a moral issue.

Why can’t we just talk of societal or collective responsibilities and right or wrong with regard to healthcare? This is something we have a responsibility to do for one another and it is morally wrong not to do it when we can, is how I see it. We are each other’s keeper. Not: this is something an individual is entitled to and can sue someone for it??

I dislike the language of rights in general because I think it is grossly misused.

We have very few genuine individual entitlements in my view. But there are many responsibilities that should come from being part of a society designed to care for individuals as well as guard the common good.

Well said! We keep mixing the term “right” (used as a moral obligation) with the term “right” (a guarantee of the constitution which one does not need to pay for).