One of the arguments against giving people legal ownership of their tissues is
summarized in the following quote from David Korn, vice provost for research at
Harvard University: “I think people are morally obligated to allow their bits and pieces
to be used to advance knowledge to help others. Since everybody benefits, everybody
can accept the small risks of having their tissue scraps used in research.” However, in a
profit-driven health care system, all citizens do not have equal access to the treatments
and medications made possible by tissue and cell research. What are the intended and
unintended consequences of a profit-driven health care system?
A profit-driven health care system makes money, but not everyone can afford full health coverage. While the health care system can provide whatever treatment the person needs, it will not give the treatment without payment. A person can be in severe pain or dying, but the private hospital will not help the person without insurance or their own payment: “in Alameda County, a private hospital turned away a woman in labor because the hospital's computer showed that she didn't have insurance,” and the consequences are as horrible as death, or in this case the death of the baby inside the woman. Obama Care helped solve the issue of not having insurance by making insurance mandatory. However, not all insurance covers everything. A simple insurance plan can be for check-ups and flu shots. A person can be denied insurance because of their credit as easily as the person would be denied a car. Many people work for minimum wage, $8 an hour, which does not add up to a lot of money unless the person works long hours and gets overtime payment. The health care system denies these people proper treatment even after all the work they do. An unskilled worker can work as hard as a skilled worker, but not get the coverage or money that the skilled worker has. Raising the minimum wage will not solve any financial problems like the people on minimum wage think because inflation will change to fit the new minimum wage.
ReplyDeleteSkloot, R. (2010). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Crown.
Andre, Claire, and Manuel Velasquez. "Health Care for Profit or People?" Health Care for Profit or
People? Santa Clara University, n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2015
Hi Angel, the question is actually asking if it is fair that people don't have legal rights over their tissues and they can be used for scientific advancements for the benefit of all if in fact healthcare is not for the benefit of all (only if you can afford it or have insurance).
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