Is there a natural right to healthcare?

• Autorzy: Sean Rife
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

In recent years, policy debates in the United States have focused heavily on rising healthcare costs and what measures can be taken to ensure greater provision of healthcare to individuals of limited means. Much of the rhetoric on this subject has taken on an explicitly moral character, and one common sentiment is that healthcare is or should be viewed as a basic human right. However, the notion of a right to healthcare has not been well articulated, and critics have failed to distinguish between legal and moral rights. Additionally, there are numerous problems inherent to viewing healthcare as a basic human right-many of which are in direct conflict with distinctly American conceptualizations of rights. The present paper reviews the debate over “rights”-both legal and natural-to healthcare, and argues that problems associated with natural rights arguments render them severely compromised. Instead, market systems commonly accepted in American society may be better suited to reducing healthcare costs and increasing access to services in the United States.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

healthcare reform; health insurance; healthcare costs; human rights; natural rights

• Wydawca: Sciendo
• Czasopismo: Human Affairs
• Rocznik: 2012
• Tom: 22
• Numer: 4
• Strony: 613-622

Daty

wydano

2012-10-01

online

2012-09-29

Twórcy

autor

Sean Rife

• Kent State University,

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Identyfikatory

DOI

10.2478/s13374-012-0049-5