Human Justice

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the issue of human justice. The paper uses the health care system as an example. The paper argues that human justice never be achieved in a health care system that gives patients less quality of care based on the patient's race or ethnicity, socio-economic class, gender or personal morality.

From the Paper:

"Further factors that create inequities throughout the health care system are issues dealing with morality. A primary example of this is that gay men and lesbians receive less adequate health care. Twice as many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered American citizens are without health insurance compared to the general population. (Quittner 2004) Although the overall availability of domestic partner benefits has increased, most health care benefits are not available to domestic partners, and health insurance through a spouse or family member is the most common way people get health insurance. Since homosexual couples are not allowed to get married, health insurance benefits are not available through these means. Additionally, gay and lesbian patients face particular prejudice from "homophobic" health care providers, and may avoid seeking health care if they suspect that they will encounter such prejudice (Quittner 2004). Furthermore, some health care practitioners may actually refuse treatment of some patients based on religious or moral objections, and in some states doctors' rights to do this may soon be protected by law. Bills have been introduced in Arkansas, Michigan, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia that would give health care workers, from doctors to pharmacists, the right to refuse treatment or medication to any patient based on ethical, moral, or religious reasons, while in Georgia health care professionals are already legally allowed to discriminate based on their own moral or ethical beliefs (Kuhr 2005). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Freeman, H. 1991, 'Emergency: the crisis in our health care', Essence, [Online] Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_n5_v22/ai_11204344/print)
• Henley, E. 2004, '10 steps for avoiding health disparities in your practice', Journal of Family Practice, [Online]Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0689/is_3_53/ai_n6077566/print
• Kawachi, I. 1999, 'Income inequality and health: pathways and mechanisms', Health Services Research, [Online]Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4149/is_1_34/ai_54422460/print
• Kuhr, F. 2005, 'Doctor of homophobia: some states may allow health care providers to refuse treatment to anyone, on moral grounds. Gays are a prime target', The Advocate, [Online]Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2005_August_30/ai_n15399849/print
• 'Minorities believe they receive far different medical care than whites, survey find' 2003, Black Issues in Higher Education, [Online]Avaialable at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DXK/is_18_20/ai_110619159/print

More papers on Human Justice:

• Term Paper # 94516 : "Can Human Justice Ever Be Achieved?"
• Term Paper # 107254 : "The Legal System and Social Justice"
• Analytical Essay # 8456 : "The Inquisitorial System of Criminal Justice"

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