Emerging

Socialized Healthcare Abstract The purpose of this assignment is to analyze the ethical response to an organizational dilemma about socialized healthcare. A multi-step ethical decision making process will be used to analyze the situation. The ethical dilemma will be defined including any competing loyalties between the organization, the patient, and others within the organization. The paper will also contain information about how socialized healthcare will positively or negatively affect the economy and citizens. Recommendation for future situations will be included in the conclusion section. Socialized Healthcare Socialized healthcare has been and is currently practiced in most European countries and other countries like Canada and Australia. In 1948, England passed the National Service Health Service Act in other words a socialized program that will provide free physician visits and hospital visits for all citizens (Brochu, 2000). Socialized medicine has been successful in most Western countries and the program ensures that all citizens are medically insured no matter the socioeconomic status. Senior citizens, wealthy individuals, and also the poor are provided with proper healthcare which will help decrease mortality rates. It can also be called the universal health care because every citizen no matter the socio or economic setting is provided with health care. Every citizen of a given country has an inherent human right to receive at least a minimal standard of medical attention (Tatum, 2010). Collect, Analyze, and Interpret Data The Aiken (2004) 5-step ethical decision making model is used to analyze the ethical dilemma of nursing working 12-hours shifts without a break. The five stages are: 1. Collect, interpret, and analyze data 2. State the dilemma 3. Consider the choices of action 4. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each action 5. Make the decision Step one is to collect, analyze, and interpret the data. The American healthcare system is based on the principle that healthcare is an inherent right of the people (Pomerance, 2009). The current healthcare system in America is really bad and the number of uninsured American keeps increasing year by year. In the year 2000, there were about 38.4 million uninsured Americans but currently, the latest current population survey by the Census Bureau indicates that there are about 47 million Americans who are currently uninsured which not only threatens the health of Americans but also the economic security. Private insurance companies are getting more expensive and Medicaid is not providing enough healthcare services to the senior citizens and the poor rendering a decrease in health for such individuals. The healthcare costs have become very expensive for working families so as the out of pocket costs and the co-payment costs. The increase in healthcare services and costs has rendered most Americans uninsured. The main challenge that the government is faced with is the ability to provide healthcare for all Americans in order to provide a quality lifestyle. State the Dilemma Step two of Aiken’s model is to state the dilemma. The current dilemma the government is faced with is the inability to provide sufficient healthcare to the citizens rendering most people uninsured. This dilemma has forced many Americans to face difficult philosophical and ethical issues of access (Pomerance, 2009). As medical technology becomes very expensive, the cost of maintaining a person’s life has become more expensive. Countries that are currently practicing the socialized healthcare are not faced with such dilemma because all of their citizens are currently covered or insured. No matter the socio or economic status of a citizen, healthcare is fully provided. This shows a decrease in mortality rates and an increase in providing sufficient healthcare and living a quality life. Choices of Action Step three is the choice of action. The next step the government needs is to be able to provide healthcare services to all Americans. The Obama’s healthcare Reform Act is considered a major move to socialized healthcare providing healthcare services to all citizens of the country regardless of the socio and economic status. The uninsured will be able to obtain health insurance. Citizens who are have been uninsured for six months and suffer from a pre-existing condition will be able to get health insurance and will not be denied coverage by insurance companies based on their health status (Black Enterprise, 2010). The senior citizens who have been on the Medicare Part D will receive a rebate of $250 which will help the people who have exceeded their coverage limit pay up prescription expenses (Black Enterprise, 2010). Young adults under the age of 26 will be able to receive coverage under their parent’s insurance plan if not they can obtain individual insurance or take part in state’s health insurance plan (Black Enterprise, 2010). Children with pre-existing condition will have access to coverage and cannot be denied inclusion on their parents’ health insurance plan (Black Enterprise, 2010). Advantages and Disadvantages of Action Step 4 is the advantages and disadvantages of the choice of action. The advantages of providing a universal healthcare to all citizens include: * Every citizen regardless of socio or economic status will be insured * There will be a better quality of life * There will be a better management for healthcare funding * There will be an increase in preventing and controlling diseases * Healthier communities will be guaranteed The disadvantages that the government may face will universal healthcare are: * Increase in taxes because all funding will be providing from tax revenues (Bizzle, 2008) * Government alone bears the risk of high costs of health care (Bizzle, 2008) * Healthcare facilities are owned and operated by government (Bizzle, 2008) Conclusion Although socialized medicine has its pros and cons, the pros outweigh the cons. There will be provision of healthcare services to the majority of people. The act of utilitarianism will be practiced. Utilitarianism is an ethical system of utility and underlines two major principles: “the greatest good for the greatest number”; and “the end justifies the means” (Aiken, 2004). Healthcare will be universally provided to the majority of the citizens creating a relief for living a better living style and quality of life. References Aiken, T. D. (2004). Legal, Ethical, and Political Issues in Nursing. Philadelphia, PA: Davis pp 102-108 Bizzle, M., Frage, D., Seremetis, L., Lambrew, J. (2008). The specter of socialized medicine: what is it and is it invading our country' Retrieved from http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/05/socialized_medicine.html Brochu, M. (2000). The question of socialized medicine. Retrieved from http://jmchar.people.wm.edu/Kin493/socmed.html Pomerance, D. M. (Nov 2009). Access to healthcare: the right of the people.  Health Management Technology, 30, 11. p.12(1).  Tatum, M. (2009). What are the benefits of socialized healthcare' Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-socialized-health-care.htm What healthcare reform means for you: President Obama recently signed historic legislation to make healthcare available and affordable to millions of Americans. Here's how the new law could affect you.  (June 2010). Black Enterprise, 40, 11. p.82(7).