Description
Essay will be 10-12 double-spaced pages with standard formatting (roughly at least 3,000 words)
( I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN THE PROPOSAL AND IS ATTACHED BELOW FOR REFERENCE) Proposal: 1-2 pages, outlining your research question, the questions you will need to answer in
order to answer your central question, your research methods, and at least 5 sources you could
draw on. Students are encouraged to draw on course readings as needed, but there is no
requirement to use any of them in the paper, and the 5 sources must be new ones we have not
covered in class. Feel free to include specific questions in your proposal that you would like me
to answer. Proposals will be graded based on completion.
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Please choose from one of the following options, or work with me early in the process if you
would like to jointly develop a different prompt:
Are health problems ones that can be effectively addressed through law and the legal
system? Why or why not?
Compare and contrast 2 health problems in the same location (city, country, region, etc.)
Please choose 2 that have been addressed in notably different ways (in terms of how the
public understands the problem, the solutions attempted, how much attention the problem
gets, etc.) Has the difference made a significant difference to the outcome? For instance,
has one problem been more successfully dealt with than the other? Or has the difference
made no difference? Why?
Does framing health as a human rights issue change the way you think of health? Please
frame your answer in reference to one or a few specific challenges in the field of health.
Your response should also address what your working definition of health is and why you
think that definition is the most compelling one.
Does adopting a health as a human rights framework help us understand the Covid 19
pandemic? Why or why not? In what ways could it shape our thinking?
If someone you know decides it’s time to get healthy, how would you advise this person
of going about it? Why? Do the personal characteristics of this person (race, sex,
income, etc.) matter to your answer, and if so, why? Would this person be open to the
advice you would give? Why or why not?
You also have the option of generating your own creative assignment to fulfill the final
assignment requirement. This MUST be cleared with me in writing by November 13,
meaning that you will need to have talked to me well prior to then. I will warn you that
students attempting alternative projects often find them much HARDER than writing a
term paper, but done right they can be quite rewarding and original.
Papers (or projects) will be assessed according to logic, quality of writing, quality of research,
and quality of analysis. They must make an argument, representing your unique conclusions
based on your empirical research.
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Does framing health as a human rights issue change the way you think of health? Please
frame your answer in reference to one or a few specific challenges in the field of health.
Your response should also address what your working definition of health is and why you
think that definition is the most compelling one.
Health as a human right, A Solution to Cost and Accessibility Challenges in the USA
In my opinion, health is more than just the absence of sickness; it is a dynamic condition
of total well-being that includes physical, mental, and social elements. I see healthcare as an
intrinsic human right, with unlimited access to complete services delivered by healthcare experts
and no financial barriers (WHO, 2017). This consideration questions the present healthcare
system’s profit-driven character, advocating for a strategy that prioritizes patients’ entire well-being
while adhering to values of justice and equality (Arenas Catalán, 2021). In defining healthcare as
a fundamental human right, I believe that every individual should be able to live a healthy life free
of financial obstacles to needed healthcare services.
This concept highlights the interconnection of physical, mental, and social health, which is
consistent with human rights ideals. Glenza (2023) warns that the rising expense of healthcare in
the United States is a serious concern, limiting access for many residents. This proposal intends to
investigate the possible impact of implementing a human rights framework on lowering costs and
improving accessibility within the healthcare system. This study attempts to give realistic insights
into the link between healthcare costs, accessibility, and the possibility of a human rights approach
by reviewing the available literature.
Towering expenses have become an impenetrable barrier in the complicated terrain of
American healthcare, casting a dark shadow on the financial well-being of people and families
alike (Turner & Miller, 2023). At the heart of this problem is a basic issue: the impression of
healthcare as a company driven by profit rather than compassion. It’s a world where healthcare
firms acquire riches, unabatedly contributing to the total high expenses of medical services
(Amadeo, 2022).
Arenas Catalán (2021) claims that the notion of healthcare as a fundamental human right
represents a dramatic paradigm change, challenging the existing quo in which financial profits
trump the importance of delivering great treatment. When healthcare is recognized as a human
right, a seismic change happens, stressing a break from a system that emphasizes business margins
over individuals’ fundamental well-being. This transformation comes with an underlying
responsibility: guaranteeing healthcare access for all, overcoming the economic hurdles that now
prevent many people from accessing necessary medical treatment.
This human rights viewpoint necessitates a rigorous reevaluation of current laws and
regulations, perhaps paving the way for steps to make healthcare more financially feasible (Nunes,
2022). The emphasis shifts to preventative care, public health programs, and prudent resource
allocation, all of which contribute to the much-needed cost containment within the healthcare
system.
Furthermore, the human rights framework emphasizes the importance of guaranteeing
equal access to healthcare services. The ongoing lack of accessibility is inextricably linked to
concerns of overutilization, in which individuals, particularly those without the luxury of financial
wealth, struggle to obtain critical medical treatment. Framing healthcare as a human right
advocates for measures that guarantee everyone, regardless of socioeconomic situation, the
unambiguous right to sufficient and affordable healthcare. This paradigm change has the potential
to spur the creation of policies such as expanded healthcare coverage and significant expenditures
in community-based healthcare projects.
A mixed-methods approach will be employed, incorporating content analysis of academic
literature, policy documents, and public discourse surrounding healthcare in the USA. Interviews
and surveys with policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public will provide nuanced
insights into the perceived challenges and potential solutions. Comparative case studies, especially
those focusing on countries with alternative healthcare models, will inform an understanding of
the impact of a human rights framework on healthcare costs and accessibility.
References
Amadeo, K. (2022). The rising cost of health care by year and its causes. The Balance.
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/causes-of-rising-healthcare-costs-4064878
Arenas Catalán, E. (2021). Solidarity and the right to health: Provision and financing of
Healthcare. The Human Right to Health. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788979658.00013
Glenza, J. (2023, November 16). Nearly half of American adults faced medical bill issues in last
year – survey. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/usnews/2023/nov/16/hospital-bill-healthcare-cost-data
Nunes, R. (2022). Healthcare as a Universal Human Right.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003241065
Turner, A., & Miller, G. (2023, October 4). High U.S. health care spending: Where is it all
going?. Commonwealth Fund. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issuebriefs/2023/oct/high-us-health-care-spending-where-is-it-all-going
WHO. (2017). Health is a fundamental human right. World Health Organization.
https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/health-is-a-fundamental-human-right
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