Public Health and the Goals of Utilitarianism and Social Justice
The reason many people think of the public health as the “other” health care system
The majority of the individuals in the US and other parts of the world have opted to acquire private health insurance covers. They now deem the public health as the ‘other’ health care system meant for those who are not sufficiently financially muscular. The reason is that the private health sector has several advantages that are not available in the public health system (MedicareHelp.org, 2016). One of the many cons of the federal system in comparison to the private is that one cannot choose the doctor to serve them. They don’t have the freedom to choose the type of services they want to receive. Secondly, the public hospitals have extended waiting time (MedicareHelp.org, 2016). Many patients succumb while they are still in the queue awaiting treatment. Thirdly, the public clinics don’t get access to many funds. Their services are, therefore, not as improved as those of the private clinics. These reasons amongst many others make people prefer private to public health care.
The description of the two principal goals of utilitarianism and social justice
Utilitarianism is both a legal and political theory that is primarily a product of the human mind. The theory puts it forward that a person is a social creature who receives motivation in life. A person has the desire to find happiness and be far away from pains (Vyas, 2006). Happiness and distance from pains are the two fundamental objectives of utilitarianism. An individual’s happiness is dependent on how they relate to others. Such relations make it necessary to for legislation as a means of regulating than to avoid going overboard.
Utilitarian philosophy has a close association with both practical politics and practical ethics. The master objective of the legislation is to enhance and secure the maximum joy for the majority if not all the members of the public. The policies insist that we must judge all the public institutions according to the fruits of their work. The work always has an effect on the happiness of the clients and the public. If a public institution goes against the legislation and causes pains, the victims should pursue social justice for the infringement of their rights to happiness.
References
MedicareHelp.org. (2016). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Private Health Insurance. 1. Retrieved from http://www.medicarehelp.org/advantages-disadvantages-private-health-insurance/
Vyas, M. (2006). Utilitarianism and notion of justice. The Concept of Justice, Utilitarianism and other Modern Approaches, 2-3. Retrieved from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.bhu.ac.in/lawfaculty/blj2006-072008-09/BLJ_2006/6_MKVyas.doc
