Good Example Of Medicine Essay

1) What role should the health care system play in addressing social issues?
The health care system should be structured in such a way that more people have access to health. Traditionally, the health care system of the country has been found to be more capital intensive when compared to the health care system of other developed countries. This is not unconnected with the fact that there is a lot of wastage in the system and also there is a disparity among various racial groups as to the quality of health care that they are able to afford. Therefore, if the government is to make healthcare more accessible to more people, the disparity in care among populations will be blunted. However, the question will still remain as to who should pay for these services.
2) Can the health care system effectively engage in the holistic assessment and treatment of patients to address such issues as lack of employment, domestic abuse, and spiritual needs?
It is quite possible for the health care system to be able to take on these roles. The system consists of several cadres of professionals that have been well trained, some in the field of clinical psychology. Harnessing the clinical skills of these professionals will not be something that is too farfetched. However, I am a bit skeptical on the issue of lack of employment. If the system is not able to cater for the new job, then there is no way those people are going to be employed. Tackling the problem of domestic abuse is well within the purview of clinical psychologists and psychiatrist. However, it should be mentioned that these additional services should be paid for by the individuals and should not constitute another burden for the taxpayers by increasing tax premiums.
3)Where does the health care system draw the line between treating a condition or episode of care and dedicating resources to address other societal issues?
The allocation of resources to focus on a particular issue to be addressed does not depend solely on the administrators in the heath care sector. To a large extent, the lawmakers are the ones that will approve any project that is to be executed. So, it is an interplay between the decision of the administrators and the will of the politicians.
4) What are the unintended consequences of diagnosing societal issues as medical conditions?
Diagnosing societal issues as medical conditions could potentially lead to a drain in resources of the system, both human resources and material resources. The professionals in the system can become overwhelmed by the volume of patients they have to attend to. It might also lead to wrong allocation of resources that could be free to manage other conditions that are more critical. To sum it up, it would lead to a lot of wastages.
5) Does the health care system have sufficient resources to treat patients holistically or should clinicians concentrate on physical "disease"?
Resources are not finite. Resources are always limited. These meager resources must be appropriated rationally. Therefore, the resources available should be channeled towards the holistic care of patients.
6) Why does the right to health care fall into category of the right to vote, free speech, speedy trail, and assembly?
The reason for those amendments to the constitution was to limit the absolute powers of the government and give more power to the people. Applying this concept to health care, the patient also has an input. Therefore, for health to be in the category of these other rights it shows that the right of the individual is being protected; being the one whose health is affected by the health intervention.
7) Is the right to health care more important than all the rights in the United States Constitution, since those rights cannot be exercised without being healthy?
The right to health care cannot be described as more important than all the other human rights. It was not explicitly stated in the constitution. If it was more important, then it would have been stated clearly. It should also be stated that the rights of the individual are still protected even when they are not healthy.
8) Did the writers of the Constitution embed the right to health care in the phrase "Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness"?
I believe that the intention of the writers of the constitution was to emphasize the fact that a person is free to participate in any enterprise that they wish to participate in, without molestation or victimization.