Chelsey Gipaya

1
Socialization of Medicine

• Chelsey Gipaya
• HCR 210
• 4/23/09
• Darian Ripple

2
Some Basic Facts about Americas Healthcare

• America spends 15-17 of its GDP (Gross Domestic
  Product) on Healthcare
• 8 of this GDP goes too Pharmaceutical Companies
• Nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the
  population under the age of 65, were without
  health insurance in 2007, the latest government
  data available.1
• The number of uninsured rose 2.2 million between
  2005 and 2006 and has increased by almost 8
  million people since 2000.1
• The large majority of the uninsured (80 percent)
  are native or naturalized citizens.2

3
THESIS

• Socialization of Medicine should be conducted in
  America because according to Rawls theory of
  justice as fairness and the veil of ignorance
  this would be the most just act for our society.

4
Moral Concerns

• Violation of Autonomy
• Violation of Right to Happiness
• Violation of Social Contract

5
What is Socialization of Medicine?

• Socialized Medicine is a system that is publicly
  administered national health care. This system
  can range from programs in which the government
  runs hospitals and health organizations to
  programs in which there is national universal
  health care. (Brochu)

6
We can see Socialization of Medicine in Place
like.

• Canada Israel
• France Finland
• United Kingdom Singapore
• Britain Thailand
• Brazil Germany
• Africa Australia
• India New Zealand

7
France

• World Health Organization rated France the best
  in the world in 2001 because of its universal
  coverage, responsive healthcare providers,
  patient and provider freedoms, and the health and
  longevity of the country's population.
• Frances healthcare system is set-up so that
  insurance companies can not change coverage nor
  deny patients coverage due to pre-existing
  conditions.
• 99 of French residents are covered by the
  national health insurance scheme.

8
Rawls Justice as Fairness

• States a Theory of Justice as Fairness
• First Principle- Society must assure each citizen
  an equal claim to a fully adequate scheme of
  equal basic rights and liberties, which scheme is
  compatible with the same scheme for all. (Ripple
  18) (Stanford Encyclopedia, 1996)
• So we can apply this to my case of socialization
  of medicine by understanding that every citizens
  has the right to seek healthcare no matter what
  their circumstances are or financial status.

9
Rawls Justice as Fairness continued

• Second Principle-Addresses the aspect of the
  basic structure that shape the distribution of
  opportunities, offices, income, wealth, and in
  general social advantages. Social structures
  that shape this distribution must satisfy the
  requirements of fair equality of opportunity.
  (Ripple 18) (Stanford Encyclopedia, 1996)
• Since fair equality is spread through education
  and employment opportunities thus it should be
  done with healthcare. This secures a guaranteed
  minimum of all-purpose means that individuals
  need to pursue their interests and maintain
  self-respect as a free and equal person.

10
Justice as Fairness

• How can we consider something fair when its
  based upon perspective?
• THE VEIL OF IGNORANCE

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The Veil of Ignorance

• Rawls says the best way to determine what would
  be just or fair for society is to image what
  principles would be agreed to by people who were
  denied knowledge of certain particular facts
  about themselves. (Ripple, notes)

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The Veil of Ignorance

• This concept that Rawls states proves this
• The most just act can be found when we lack
  knowledge about ourselves. When we do not know
  certain facts, like age, gender, social status,
  or pre-existing medical conditions about one
  another in our society it becomes easier to make
  more profound and just decisions.

13
Rawls Applied

• Therefore, Rawls theory can be applied to this
  case of Socialized medicine in respect that
  society should conduct an overall just healthcare
  system that is fair and equally to all citizens
  no matter what their circumstances are.

14
Counter Arguments

• Jeremy Bentham argues the point of Classic
  Utilitarianism.
• Classic Utilitarianism states this given a
  choice in social policies we must choose the one
  that has the best overall results for everyone
  concerned. Or maximizing pleasures for the least
  amount of pain.
• (Ripple, notes)
• One could argue that Socialization of Medicine
  violates a more profound happiness.
• E.g..
• Socialization of Medicine does not allow for
  maximizing pleasures because not all pleasures
  are measured or perceived the same.

15
Disputing this counter argument
However with Rawls Theory we can prove that
these counter arguments do not represent what is
most just to our society because even though what
is thought to be the most pleasurable to one
person may not be what is over all the best
decision for the masses.
16
Conclusion

• Socialization of Medicine should be conducted in
  America because according to Rawls theory of
  justice as fairness and the veil of ignorance
  this would be the most just act for our society.

17
References

• Brochu, M The of Socialized Medicine. Retrieved
  April 23, 2009, Web site http//jmchar.people.wm.
  edu/Kin493/socmed.html
• Chandler-Gilbert Community College. (2009).
  Syllabus Brochure. Chandler, AZ Darien Ripple.
• Health Care Statistics. Retrieved April 20, 2009,
  from Diseaseprevention.com Web site
  http//www.preventdisease.com/worksite_wellness/he
  alth_stats.html
• (2009, April). Health Insurance Coverage.
  Retrieved April 23, 2009, from Center of Disease
  Control and Prevention Web site
  http//www.cdc.gov/nchs/FASTATS/hinsure.htm
• (2009). National Coalition of Health Care.
  Retrieved April 20, 2009, from Health Insurance
  Coverage Web site http//www.nchc.org/facts/cover
  age.shtml

18
References continued

• Original Position. (1996). Original Position. In
  Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Web.
  Metaphysical Research Lab, CSLI Stanford
  University. Retrieved April, 2009, from
  http//plato.stanford.edu/entries/original-positio
  n/
• Original Position. (1996). The Veil of Ignorance.
  In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Web.
  Metaphysical Research Lab, CSLI Stanford
  University. Retrieved April, 2009, from
  http//plato.stanford.edu/entries/original-positio
  n/
• Shapiro, J (2008, July). Health Care Lessons from
  France. Retrieved April 23, 2009, from N.P.R Web
  site http//www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php
  ?storyId92419273
• Williams, S. J (2005). Essentials of Health
  Services 3rd Edition. Clifton Park, New York
  Thomason Delmar Learning.