Healthcare as individual responsibility vs. healthcare as a communal responsibility Essay Example

Healthcare as individual responsibility vs. healthcare as a communal responsibility Paper Healthcare, in hindsight, is a responsibility of every person. Each person is accountable for taking care of himself. However, there are instances when health is a concern for the community in which an individual is part. There are cases when the health of the individual is greatly affected by the health of the collective majority as well, in the question of responsibility, whose is the greater—that of the individual or that of the community? There are several factors to considering in taking this question. First is the scope of responsibility that the individual has, where observing coast-to-coast limits is necessary. Another consideration is the responsibility of other stakeholders or members of the community. Thirdly, it should be noted how the individual or the community responsibility perspective is disadvantageous. Lastly, a decision should be made on whose responsibility healthcare really is. We will write a custom essay sample on Healthcare as individual responsibility vs. healthcare as a communal responsibility specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Healthcare as individual responsibility vs. healthcare as a communal responsibility specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Healthcare as individual responsibility vs. healthcare as a communal responsibility specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Individuals have the right to choose a healthcare plan that fits him. By doing so he hopes to minimize his costs while maximizing the benefits of the plan he has chosen. Because individuals differ in their tastes and perspectives, their choice of healthcare plan for themselves will likewise differ. This complicates the healthcare plot because in a communal setting the plans will be easier to implement to the mass, equal for all, and tailored to the musts as decided by medical experts. Yet individual healthcare responsibilities often fail because people have differing priorities and some may not have healthcare on their lists—either they cannot afford it or they do not or can not pay attention for some reason. Likewise, communal healthcare responsibilities also cannot be relied upon, given the bad system and management that is given to it in general. Given these dilemmas, new studies have been made and revealed that no one of these pillars can be fully responsible for healthcare. The appealing concept of shared healthcare responsibility takes this cue. The individual healthcare responsibility When one comes to think of it, the best healthcare plan is the one designed to the unique needs of an individual. Besides, his own is the only one who is in the position to gauge his healthcare needs according to his lifestyle and capabilities. Thus, an individual should take the call of his healthcare. While clinicians have the thorough knowledge on their craft, they should carefully consider and as much as possible pattern their treatments to those which the patient believes he needs. (Encouraging patients to assume more responsibility for their health, 2001) The current communal healthcare system, many say, is not working. The expense of health care is gargantuan; the system inefficient as shown in the unnecessary wastages on administration, marketing, and billing; there is no equality because many people cannot afford insurance (Callahan, 2005; Oxford Analytica, 2007). Furthermore, fraud invades communal healthcare systems. This is evident in many cases where people are cheated on their benefits. Lastly, there are still unnecessary deaths which leads to the question of quality of the communal healthcare system. (Callahan, 2005) D (2007) also asserts that because of the incompetence of the government to provide for proper medical care for the people, it is the prerogative of the people to take individual actions. Communal healthcare responsibility Yet Callahan (2005) points out that individual healthcare responsibility is a detriment. By assuming their own health care, the people who should be able to provide more comprehensive health care plans that are pro-patient are relieved of what was really their innate responsibility. Another thing, with the drop on employee coverage and insurance subscriptions, communal healthcare duty may well be the better option. (Oxford Analytica, 2007) There are many players to the communal health care theme. Apart from the standard individual-clinician-health plan provider trio, the employer and the government are also responsible. (Oxford Analytica, 2007) This being, the people should take advantage of this right, a duty that they ascribe to the government and the other stakeholders of health care. According to What’s Wrong with Shifting Healthcare Responsibility to Individuals (2007), putting health care responsibilities to individuals put families and persons at risk. People who take their health plans as an independent may become forced to pay for cheap and inadequate policies, or pay the high costs of one that is at par better in terms of quality. Interestingly, another negative effect is that the blame for healthcare flaws become directed to individuals and their choices rather than the stakeholders whoa re supposed to cook up better heath care reforms. Lastly, because individual health care reforms will compulsorily require individuals to buy health plans, the healthcare industry will go into a frenzy for selling and buying plans which can deteriorate the quality and leave out those who cannot afford the pricey ones. Points of view One aspect of the subject deals in the primacy of individual healthcare plan. Undoubtedly, giving individuals the ability to manipulate their healthcare services gives them the flexibility they need to maintain it. The other side of the coin focuses on the fact that healthcare is a responsibility of a group or different groups. Thus, it is a communal obligation. It claims that individual responsibility may fail. The number one cause would be the failure to comply by patients. Studies have shown that of patients given the responsibility to medicate themselves or pick a plan for themselves, only 50% can comply to the judgments of the clinician. (Encouraging patients to assume more responsibility for their health, 2001) But this is no two-sided affair. Many proponents are now promoting shared responsibility for health care. (Oxford Analytica, 2007) Only by a homogenous relationship and execution of communal role-players in the healthcare system can healthcare be called optimum. The role-players include the individual, the health care providers, and the plan providers. Their take on complementing roles allow each to take a responsibility and play it in concurrence with the responsibilities and outcomes of the others. For instance, practitioners should encourage their patients to take on their individual responsibilities and not be gullible with the face-value plans that are given to them. Yet this should be done procedurally, and it will be a serious hand-in-hand work in the part of the patient and the clinician/practitioner. (Encouraging patients to assume more responsibility for their health, 2001) Healthcare is an important aspect of the lives of individuals as well as the lives of groups that in one way or another affects or is affected by healthcare reforms. Looking at the backgrounds, analyses, and the points of view given by many sources, choosing between the individual and the community is futile. The real answer to the problem is in creating a plan where all role-players of the healthcare will take part and make it better. References Callahan, J. Americans’ raw deal on healthcare. 2005. Retrieved October 25, 2007, from http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2005/10/27/americans_raw_deal_on_healthcare/ D, Stephanie. 2007. US healthcare or lack thereof. Retrieved October 25, 2007, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/282245/us_healthcare_or_lack_thereof.html Encouraging patients to assume more responsibility for their health. 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2007, from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/406453_print Oxford Analytica. 2007. Healthcare reform gains traction with shared responsibility theme. Retrieved October 25, 2007, from http://thehill.com/op-eds/healthcare-reform-gains-traction-with-shared-responsibility-theme-2007-10-10.html What’s wrong with shifting healthcare responsibility to individuals. 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007, from http://itsourhealthcare.org/blog1/learn_more/shifting_responsibility.html