Paper Proposal
After writing my This I Believe paper I knew that I wanted to write about a topic pertaining to health. Last quarter I had taken a health class and I decided to research an issue that we had only briefly touched upon in class. This was the human right to health. My professor had created a PowerPoint that was a brief summary of the countries that health was considered a human right and its implications. This PowerPoint inspired me to research further. Also in my health class, we had a representative come in to talk about the new health care reform bill. Her presentation, much like Lance Gable's piece on the new legislation, gave a simplified and organized explanation of the important things that the bill addressed. Having already learned about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, I knew that it was something I supported so I was happy I could incorporate this into my paper as well.
In the 21st century, the issue of health care has been a priority for America. Even more recently, the United States is in the middle of a transition into President Barack Obama’s health care reform bill, also called “Obama care.” Because health care, or the lack of health care for the less fortunate in America, is such a present dispute, I will be writing my research paper with the platform that health care should be considered a constitutional human right and guaranteed to all citizens of America. As I stated in my short paper on a strong belief I have, health is extremely important to me. I believe my mind, body and spirit’s health has been essential to my successes in college and has had a huge impact on the positivity of my life. My personal type of health may not exactly be the type that is being discussed in politics nowadays, but it still reflects on how I think that everyone should have access to the type of health care that is specific to them. I am so passionate about providing people this care, and I currently am a health science major at Depaul planning to apply to a nursing program after my graduation. Last quarter, as a part of this major, I was enrolled in Health 201 and was introduced to the concept of health care being a guaranteed human right. After looking at examples and being provided some information on the topic, I knew what I believed and I am glad I will be able to delve deeper into this issue.
This paragraph above is my statement on the relevance of the issue. Because of the new reform bill to be fully implemented in 2014 this was not very difficult.
First, the definitions of some key words in this issue must be described and questions must be answered. What is exactly a human right? Where are they written down and how are they enforced? If health care were a human right, what aspects of it would be guaranteed, because it is such an extensive subject? What would the quality of the health care guaranteed be? What are the current laws covering health care, such as the new Obama Care? What have been the effects of health care becoming a human right in other countries? What changes would have to be made in the government to accommodate this change in the constitution?
Currently, health care is considered a human right by the United Nations. However in some countries, such as the United States, that is not followed. There are many steps being made, such as Obama Care, that are working towards health care becoming universal in the country. This is not the same as a human right. Activists, specifically nurses, have the viewpoint that is discussed on allnurses.com and think that society is morally obligated to provide care for the people in need regardless of their ability to pay. There is a strong emphasis on the fact that because it is not a human right, it is seen as a commodity, which from a moral standpoint is disappointing. Speaking of health care as a right connects with people and also makes the issue more of a question of the values of our country. If health care were to be included in our constitution, every citizen would deserve the right to treatment and care. From my health class we learned that in Brazil “health is to be considered the Right of all and the Duty of the State.” This medical legislation has impacted the way that doctors treat their patients and also the ways they interact with the medical institutions. With a disease such as HIV that can be devastating without treatment, researchers found that 90% of women in a sample population of HIV positive mothers in the Hospital Sao Jose voiced their comfort with revealing themselves to their doctors, because of the fact that they felt like they deserved treatment and wanted to better themselves. These are the types of effects that having health care as a human right can have on individuals of lower income. This example also shows how this can better the health outcomes and public health in a country.
Like an argument, there are opposing viewpoints on the topic of health care. Those who are in disagreement usually say that health care is a privilege and not a right. They also say that because health care is so hard to define that it cannot be given a god- given and structured right, and so it should not be universal. Making health care a human right is very complex because it does rely on the work and money of others to provide this care, and there are many questions about what quality and to what level this care should be provided. These views are in direct conflict with my statement that universal health care should be provided in America. Instead of Obama care or making care a human right, these opponents would rather keep things the way they have been for the past centuries, with health care being provided to those who can pay. My viewpoint is that as a country, we are all responsible for providing care to the people who may not have had the same opportunities as the rest of us. They may not have the opportunities to make it far in life, but they should at least be able to be healthy, which could in turn affect other aspects of their lives. In the long run, this will be better for our country’s public health, as more people will be healthy and taken care of and can contribute more to society.
The topic of health care is very interesting to me, but unfortunately it is very complex. This complexity will pose a challenge in that I will have to get a very good understanding of the current health care in the US, and the health care of other countries to see what can be applicable in this country. I also will not go extremely deep into every single nook and cranny of any proposals or systems because of the page limit on this paper. I want to put more of a focus on the morality of the issue for the reason that this is a matter of human rights. I do not think I will have a problem with finding people to interview because I know some health care professionals that may have an opinion on the issue, and also because of my health class last quarter I have the contact information for a person who has a huge understanding and is support of Obamas health care plan.
I understood that with the topic of health care there are so many different aspects of the issues and lots of different views to see it from. This paragraph above was my statement of my perspective I would focus on throughout the paper. Because of all the monetary and political issues, I decided to focus on the morality of the issue because this aspect was most important to me and would not be as confusing. I adhered to this throughout the rest of my drafting process.
To present my argument and claim at the end of quarter I plan on making a brochure to pass around to everyone in the class. This brochure will be handed out before my presentation so all the students will be able to follow along and have a visual in their hands. This will include pictures and definitions of key words along with an outline of my presentation. I chose the idea of a brochure because when you are addressing an audience with an argument and proposal it is very similar to trying to introduce and “sell” an idea, just like a brochure is meant to do.
When Obama’s new health care reform bill was introduced, revised, and then passed in 2012, the debate on health care became extremely prevalent. The US has never taken as much action to change the way our country views health care. However President Obama’s plan does not entail a change in our constitution making health care a human right. Currently it is considered a commodity here in America and is sold for profit. This does not match up with my morals, as I am sure is the case with many others. Instead I am proposing that the focus should be put on human rights and the human body, not the money.
If I find this topic of health care in America is not possible, an alternative topic for my research paper is similar but more specific. Instead of speaking of health on a country wide and more general level, I could argue that health care should be provided for all college students. I could explore the questions of how health affects a student’s performance in school and how it could take some of the load off of money, as college is a very expensive four-year experience. If someone’s parents do not have health insurance to cover them is any provided by colleges currently?