American Health Care: Realities, Rights, and Reforms - Couverture souple

Dougherty, Charles J

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0195052722 ISBN 13 : 9780195052725

Editeur : Oxford University Press Inc, 1988

Synopsis

Is our present health care system biased against people with limited education and income? Does every American have a moral right to health care? If so, what kinds of care and how much? In a provocative examination of American health care delivery, Charles J. Dougherty considers these and many other questions. His book fills an important niche in contemporary medical ethics and public health literature by combining a description and analysis of the American health care system--as it actually operates today--with an assessment of recent philosophical writings on justice. In the first section, Dougherty describes inequalities in health care delivery to blacks, the poor, and the less educated. He then reviews the philosophical theories of utilitarianism, egalitarianism, contractarianism, and libertarianism; applies them to health care issues; and argues for a moral right to health care. He considers available policy alternatives, concluding that the empirical data and our understanding of justice and human rights should commit us to a national health care plan supported by national health insurance.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

This book provides a moral evaluation of American health care. It is in three main parts: a review and analysis of conditions bearing on access to quality health care, a philosophical analysis and defence of the concept of a moral right to health care, and a discussion of various policy alternatives for reform of the US system for delivering health care. The first chapter demonstrates that many Americans, especially among blacks, persons from low income families, and those with less education, are underserved by the present system. Persons in these groups have significantly worse health characteristics than other Americans. Do these persons have a right to health care? If so, to what kinds of care and how much? In part two, four contemporary theories of justice and of peoples' rights - utilitarianism, egalitarianism, libertarianism, and contractarianism - are examined and their implications for a right to health care described. Each theory is then discussed in terms of a right to health care that encompasses non-interference with one's health, primary care, curative care under some circumstances, and the freedom to buy additional health care not guaranteed by right. What is to be done? This is the central question of the third part, which examines and evaluates alternative directions for reform of the American health care system.

Revue de presse

'Altogether a most impressive work, which deserves to be widely read.' A.W. Macara, University of Bristol, British Medical Journal

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Oxford University Press Inc
• Date d'édition: 1988
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0195052722
• ISBN 13: 9780195052725
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 227
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Messaggerie Libri; ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it; ; Via Verdi, 8; Assago Milano; Italie