Health care: is it a human right?

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Today, we were given a flier: Principles for Health Care Reform from the Catholic Bishops fo the United States; date at bottom says June 18, 1993 for this statement:

“Heath care is more than a commodity; it is a basic human right, an essential safeguard of human life and dignity. We believe our people’s health care should not depend on where they work, how much their parents earn or where they live.”

This would presumably cover unborn infants in the womb.

Question: Is health care REALLY a basic human right?
Should it be considered so?

It seems to me that, if national health care ever comes to be, the Catholic bishops will have a real hard time maintaining Catholic principles which protect human life at all stages. I’m just trying to be realistic here.

Another part of the flier:

Be a Part of the Debate within your state:
– Contact the (state’s) Catholic conference or diocesan offices to learn where you can locate information on various health care reform proposals.
–Contact state legislators to voice your support for health care reform using the principles put forth by the Bishops. (Come prepared next weekend to write a brief account of a health care situation – your own or someone you know.)

By NEXT weekend? I wonder how many people even read this paper?

Did anyone else get this with their bulletin this weekend?

Mimi
 
Mimi said:
“Heath care is more than a commodity; it is a basic human right, an essential safeguard of human life and dignity. We believe our people’s health care should not depend on where they work, how much their parents earn or where they live.”

This would presumably cover unborn infants in the womb.

Question: Is health care REALLY a basic human right?
Should it be considered so?
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The only words I can think of are from the parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:35

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’
This is worth pondering.
 
I don’t remember reading in the Bible that government sponsored healthcare is a basic human right.
 
It is unless you believe abortion and euthanasia are healthcare. If we could truly get out of the prodeath culture, I have every reason to believe we could make healthcare a basic human right. Till then, God is letting us be tried over this whole issue.
 
I think that “Patch” Adams has the right idea concerning health care.
 
I think that “Patch” Adams has the right idea concerining health care.
 
marcylee said:
I don’t remember reading in the Bible that government sponsored healthcare is a basic human right.
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The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Luke 10:35

People sponsored?
 
Morally, the access to health care is a basic right, similar to that of food, water and shelter.

How that care is provided and to what level is the rub. We can’t all afford to drive Cadillacs, and we shouldn’t have to pay for everyone to do so.

Just think of it…we’d have plenty of money to feed, shelter and provide medical care for everyone if the government didn’t **** away the money through corruption and waste.
 
Newbie2 said:
Morally, the access to health care is a basic right, similar to that of food, water and shelter.

How that care is provided and to what level is the rub. We can’t all afford to drive Cadillacs, and we shouldn’t have to pay for everyone to do so.

Just think of it…we’d have plenty of money to feed, shelter and provide medical care for everyone if the government didn’t **** away the money through corruption and waste.
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I agree, Newbie. As Christians we are called to love and serve others, to help provide needs to those less fortunate than ourselves. There are plenty of charitable organizations through which we can do this. Once the government gets involved, it tends to generate the exact opposite of its stated intent.
 
Good analogy. Health care is a human necessity like food and shelter. We don’t hand out mansions or gourmet food for just anyone who asks.

I think we ought to take a similar attitude towards health care. Basic preventative care, ER and any drugs out long enough to be generic could be covered by the basic national coverage.

Specialists, surgeries and new drugs would only be available to those with insurance. I wish the idea were mine, but I got it from a Canadian dissatisfied with his country’s system and looking for a better way.
 
manualman said:
Good analogy. Health care is a human necessity like food and shelter. We don’t hand out mansions or gourmet food for just anyone who asks.

I think we ought to take a similar attitude towards health care. Basic preventative care, ER and any drugs out long enough to be generic could be covered by the basic national coverage.

Specialists, surgeries and new drugs would only be available to those with insurance. I wish the idea were mine, but I got it from a Canadian dissatisfied with his country’s system and looking for a better way.
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If those surgeries and new drugs are lifesaving society has an obligation to get them to everyone whether they have insurance or not.
 
goofyjim said:
If those surgeries and new drugs are lifesaving society has an obligation to get them to everyone whether they have insurance or not.
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Not necessarily, if you’re suggesting that new drugs are always better. 🙂
 
goofyjim said:
If those surgeries and new drugs are lifesaving society has an obligation to get them to everyone whether they have insurance or not.
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Not one nation on earth has or could ever afford such a vision of health care. Those that try only wind up rationing the expensive stuff out on different terms than money. What’s the difference, morally whether you get denied cutting edge transplant due to lack of insurance or because you lack the political clout needed to get assigned the next limited slot?

You’re dead either way.

Cutting edge medical treatment requires the dedicated efforts of thousands of the brightest minds on earth. It is misguided idealism to suppose that one can demand such heroic efforts of others as one’s ‘right.’

Here in Chicagoland, the proximity of Fermilab offers a unique opportunity to use the Fermilab proton accelerator for limited clinical trials as a cancer treatment. If this is found to be helpful, do you demand that every hospital worldwide build a multibillion dollar Fermilab proton accelerator? (Hint there are two of this class in the world)

Utopianism sounds nice on the internet, but works poorly in real life.
 
manualman said:
Not one nation on earth has or could ever afford such a vision of health care. Those that try only wind up rationing the expensive stuff out on different terms than money. What’s the difference, morally whether you get denied cutting edge transplant due to lack of insurance or because you lack the political clout needed to get assigned the next limited slot?

You’re dead either way.

Cutting edge medical treatment requires the dedicated efforts of thousands of the brightest minds on earth. It is misguided idealism to suppose that one can demand such heroic efforts of others as one’s ‘right.’
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It sounds liek protestant thinking to say if you are unfortunate and without insurance you have to face death while someone else more fortunate gets to live. Read St. James carefully and tell me what you think.
 
I love Saint James and have read it many times. I don’t think he espouses governmental utopianism though, sorry. As christians, we are called to care for the sick - absolutely! IMO, the best way to do that is to retain the system that CREATED the modern medical miracle and allow the advances it creates to be enjoyed by future generations.

Sovietize the system and you’ll get the same mediocre care for everyone and drastically reduce the rate of progress for the future. Want to see how government health care works out? Volunteer at your local VA hospital.

(Oh, and I think St. James would be astounded and amazed at what a general practitioner MD and today’s generic drugs can do.)
 
manualman said:
Good analogy. Health care is a human necessity like food and shelter. We don’t hand out mansions or gourmet food for just anyone who asks.

I think we ought to take a similar attitude towards health care. Basic preventative care, ER and any drugs out long enough to be generic could be covered by the basic national coverage.

Specialists, surgeries and new drugs would only be available to those with insurance. I wish the idea were mine, but I got it from a Canadian dissatisfied with his country’s system and looking for a better way.
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Thank you,manualman! Healthcare is a human need, but how far do we go. I think if people in the states would actuallly look at and examine, the European model, and how it impacts all citizens in a country, and examine the quality of care these people are receiving, they may be more qualified to make an opinion.
 
manualman said:
I love Saint James and have read it many times. I don’t think he espouses governmental utopianism though, sorry. As christians, we are called to care for the sick - absolutely! IMO, the best way to do that is to retain the system that CREATED the modern medical miracle and allow the advances it creates to be enjoyed by future generations.

Sovietize the system and you’ll get the same mediocre care for everyone and drastically reduce the rate of progress for the future. Want to see how government health care works out? Volunteer at your local VA hospital.

(Oh, and I think St. James would be astounded and amazed at what a general practitioner MD and today’s generic drugs can do.)
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But apparently it can only be enjoyed by the future gnerations that are fortunate enough to have insurance.:rolleyes: We’re not talking about sovietizing anything. No amount of charity in the world is going to pick up the slack for those who can’t, not won’t, afford healthcare. So the disabled and unemployed, who may be there through no fault of their own deserve just as much of a collective bargaining power through medicare and medicaid, which should pay out for the same procedures as anyone on private insurance gets. That method does not interfere with one’s ability tokeep provate insurance while covering those who are unable, not unwilling, to get the private insurance. Take for example the story of the woman who just lost her job, therefore was unable to afford cobra, and then found out she had cancer. Her ttreatment should be paid for regardless.
 
goofyjim said:
But apparently it can only be enjoyed by the future gnerations that are fortunate enough to have insurance.:rolleyes: We’re not talking about sovietizing anything. No amount of charity in the world is going to pick up the slack for those who can’t, not won’t, afford healthcare. So the disabled and unemployed, who may be there through no fault of their own deserve just as much of a collective bargaining power through medicare and medicaid, which should pay out for the same procedures as anyone on private insurance gets. That method does not interfere with one’s ability tokeep provate insurance while covering those who are unable, not unwilling, to get the private insurance. Take for example the story of the woman who just lost her job, therefore was unable to afford cobra, and then found out she had cancer. Her ttreatment should be paid for regardless.
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But what about the about the able bodied people who can actually work, but won’t because they know they don’t have to. They can just pay a doctor to say they are disabled and cannot work, and then they get disability compensation. I see them every day in the city. They have enough strength to stand in line in 20 degree weather to wait for their food stamps, but they can’t get a job? I don’t mean to sound heartless. I understand there are people who need help. But I just see so many people who are taking advantage of the system.
 
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