Question

1. In your own words, Describe how each of the following theories of Distributive Justice would be used to develop a plan to distribute health care in the United States ( 15 points).

•     Utilitarian

•     Libertarian

•     Communitarian

•     Eqalitarian

2. Chose one bioethical principle/theory that you see yourself using the most in your current or future healthcare practice. Discuss why you chose this principle/theory. ( 5 points)

Answer 1

UTILITARIANISM IS A MORAL THEORY THAT FOCUSES ON THE OVERALL BALANCE OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ACTIONS; ALL ACTIONS ARE CONSIDERED ON THE BASIS OF CONSEQUENCES,NOT ON THE BASIS OF FUNDAMENTAL MORAL RULES AND PRINCIPLES OR WITH REGARD TO CHARACTER TRAITS.

IN UTILITARIAN BECAUSE IT SEEKS TO PRESERVE THE HEALTH STATUS ( SOMETHING THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELL -BEING OF PERSONS)OF THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS POSSIBLE ,IDEALLY THE ENTIRE POPULATION.

IN THE UTILITARIAN APPROACH, DECISIONS ARE CHOSE BASED ON THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF BENEFIT OBTAINED FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS.THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE CONSEQUENTIALIST APPROACH SICE THE OUTCOMES DETERMINE THE MORALITY OF THE INTERVENTION.

IN HEALTHCARE = UTILITARIAN IS AN ETHICAL THEORY ACCORDING TO WHICH 'THE MORALLY RIGHT ACTION IS THE ACTION THAT PRODUCES THE MOST GOOD ',SO AN ACTION IS MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE CONSEQUENCE IT PRODUCES.

2. IN THE LIBERTARIAN CONCEPT ,INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH,THEIR OWN WELL-BEING AND FULFILMENT OF THEIR LIFE PLAN. THEREFORE ,EVERYONE PAYS FOR THEIR OWN INDIVIDUALLY EXPERIENCED HEALTHCARE NEEDS,DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH PRIVATE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE .

LIBERTARIANS BELIEVE THAT HEALTHCARE PRICES WOULD DECREASE AND QUALITY AND AVAILAABILITY OF HEALTHCARE WOULD INCREASE IF PROVIDERS WERE FREED FROM GOVERNMENT MEDDING AND CONTROL.VIRTUALLY EVERY PERSON WANTS ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.

THE ILLNESS PERSPECTIVE CAN BE CONNECTED WITH AN LIBERTARIAN CONCEPT OF JUSTICE ; EMPHASIS IS ON PATIENTS ' SUBJECTIVELY EXPERIENCED NEED FOR HEALTHCARE,WHICH ARISES WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO GIVE FORM TO THEIR OWN LIFE ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN VIEWS AND IDEAS.

3.IN THE COMMUNITARIAN CONCEPT , THE CRITERION OF JUSTICE IS BASED ,NOT ON THE INDIVIDUALS DECISION ABOUT WHAT HEALTHCARE SERVICES ARE DESIRED,BUT ON WHAT SOCIETY CONSIDER TO BE NECESSARY HEALTHCARE. ACCORDING TO UTILITARIAN CONCEPT -INCREASING THE TOTAL HEALTH OF THE WHOLE POPULATION.

COMMUNITARIAN APPROACH AIMS TO PRESERVE THE BALANCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES ,THE MORAL INTEGRITY OF A CARING SOCIETY ,AND THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF MUTUAL TRUST BETWEEN PATIENTS AND HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL.

4. AN EGALITARIAN FAVORS EQUALITY OF SOME SORT; PEOPLE SHOULD GET THE SAME ,OR BE TREATED AS EQUALS ,IN SOME RESPECT. EGALITARIAN DOCTRINES TEND TO REST ON A BACKGROUND IDEA THAT ALL HUMAN PERSONS ARE EQUAL IN FUNDAMENTAL WORTH OR MORAL STATUS.

LIBERAL EGALITARIAN THEORIES OF DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE ARGUE THAT A CENTRAL GOAL OF PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD BE TO SECURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS . ALL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY APPROACHES ARGUE THAT SOCIETY SHOULD ELIMINATE INEQUALITIES THAT ARISES FROM SOME ,BUT NOT ALL,FACTORS

.IT AIMS AT CREATING POSSIBILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE EQUAL TO OTHERS,ALSO WITH REGARD TO HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. ACCORDING TO THE EGALITARIAN CONCEPT,IT IS NOT THE INDIVIDUALLY EXPERIENCED HEALTHCARE NEED THAT IS CENTRAL,BUT AN OBJECTIVELY DETERMINED HEALTHCARE NEED.

= THE LANGUAGE OF ETHICS RELATED TO HEALTHCARE ,ALSO COMMONLY CALLED BIOETHICS ,IS APPLIED ACROSS ALL PRACTICE SETTINGS ,AND FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES INCLUDE -

1.AUTONOMY

2.BENEFICENCE

3.NONMALEFICENCE

4. JUSTICE

THE PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE

JUSTICE SPEAKS TO EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS IN TREATMENT .HIPPOCRATES RELATED ETHICAL PRINCIPLES TO THE INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PHYSICIAN AND THE PATIENT.ETHICAL PRACTICE TODAY MUST EXTEND BEYOND INDIVIDUALS TO THE INSTITUTIONAL AND SOCIAL REALMS .THIS MEANS THAT ,IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FAIRNESS IN TREATMENT TO THE PATIENT,THE ISTITUTION AND STAFFMUST ALSO BE TREATED FAIRLY. FOR EXAMPLE ,IT IS NOT FAIR IF A PATIENT CANNOT MAKE PAYMENTS AND THE INSTITUTION HAS TO PAY FOR THE TREATMENTS ALREADY GIVEN FOR THE PATIENTS BENEFIT.

distributive justice -ADDRESSES THE DEGREE TO WHICH HEALTHCARE SERVICES ARE DISTRIBUTED EQUTABLY THROUGHOUT SOCIETY.

COMPARATIVE JUSTICE - DTERMINES HOW HEALTHCARE IS DELIVERED AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.IT LOOKS AT DISPARATE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS ON THE BASIS OF AGE ,DISABILITY,GENDER ,RACE ,ETHINICITY AND RELIGION.

IN AMERICA DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA INTRODUCED THE FIRST GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED HEALTHCARE AIMED AT COVERING ALL AMERICANS NICKNAMED OBAMA CARE OR MORE CORRECTLY CALLED THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.ITS ATTEMPT TO DECREASE DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.

I CHOOSE THIS PRINCIPLE BECAUSE OF THE CHARACTER OF THE PRINCIPLES.CURRENTLY I HAVE SEEN MANY ISSUES IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SUCH AS -IGNORE THE CARE BY RELIGION AND THE CULTURE.SO THIS PRINCIPLE MORE EFFECTIVE IN THIS TYPE OF DIFFERENTIATIONS.