Controversy in Public Health
Students will identify a current controversy or ethical dilemma within public health and write a short research paper on the topic. The paper will include 1) background of the issue, 2) at least two different positions taken on the issue (“Some say… However, others say…”), and 3) your own opinion on the issue and why you hold that opinion. Guidelines for the assignment will be shared in class and posted to Canvas. This assignment should be submitted to Canvas.
While the mission of public health is to ensure the health of populations, this mission is often complicated by ethical considerations and controversy. Please read the prompts below and respond to one of them by answering the underlined question. Your response should be 1 – 2 pages and follow APA format. While citations are not required, if you use citations, please put them in APA format. A grading rubric is included below.
Scenario 2: A Right to Health Care?
In the United States, access to health care is mostly determined by whether you have health insurance. But today, roughly 30 million Americans do not have access to health insurance. Another roughly 30 million Americans are underinsured; that is, they have health insurance, but their insurance is inadequate because either it is too expensive to use (high premiums, co-pays, and/or deductibles) or it does not cover all of their health needs. In this respect, the US is unique among high-income countries, which provide universal access to health care for all of their citizens and often to non-citizens as well. During the democratic primaries for the 2020 presidential election, the candidates will debate various ways of increasing access to health care. “Medicare for All,” is a policy that would create a single form of health insurance that is run by the government and that everyone can have access to. Various other Democratic policy proposals also seek to increase access to health care. However, some argue that access to health care is not a right and that just because someone does not have access to health care does not mean that society or the government is obligated to provide it to them. Instead, they argue that health care is a privilege that is only for those who have enough money to purchase it or who have jobs that offer health insurance.
Is access to health care is a human right or a privilege? Discuss.
Grading Rubric
2 points – A very brief background of the issue is presented in the student’s own words
3 points – Two opposing perspectives on a public health issue are clearly presented
3 points – The student clearly provides their own opinion
1 point – All formatting requirements are followed
1 point – The paper is free of grammatical errors