Health Care As a Human Right?

Kevin, a NC Christian chaplain blogger, has posted his thoughts on health care reform.

He addresses a simple truth: if we as a society believed health care is a human right, then such a claim by anyone in our current discourse on health care reform would be a moot point.

I believe most United Methodists and, indeed, most Americans would find the claim to be a moot point under certain conditions. Time and time again, I witness people respond with open hearts and all the gifts at their disposal to offer aid to people who have experienced calamity--from a friend who needs care or financial assistance after a life-threatening car crash to a stranger who is one of many who survived a flood.

Yet often the struggle for this seemingly moot point comes when individual strangers are hit by calamity or when there is no calamity--when preventative care is necessary. Do we believe these times are just as worthy of our concern for another's health and well being? Can we say unequivocally in unison with the United Methodist social principle that health care is a human right? Should all have equal access to the same quality care regardless of who you are or the possessions you have?

In a future post, we will delve into this question at greater length.