American health care : realities, rights, and reforms / Charles J. Dougherty.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dougherty, Charles J., 1949-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Medical care--United States.

Medical care.

Medical care--Utilization--United States.

Medical policy--United States.

Medical policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 227 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, 1988.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This timely book fills an important niche in contemporary medical ethics literature by combining empirical descriptions of American health care with an analysis of recent philosophical writings on justice.

Contents:

Part I: Realities 1. Some American Health Care Realities: Access to Needed Care; Quality of Care; Rising Costs Part II: Rights 2. A Right to Health Care: The Concept of a Right; For and Against a Right to Health Care 3. Utilitarianism: Optimal Consequences; Prudent Insurance 4. Egalitarianism: Equal Intrinsic Value; Substantive Equality 5. Libertarianism: Liberty and Ownership; Compensatory Rights 6. Contractarianism: The Social Contract; Liberty, Opportunity, and Wealth 7. Plural Foundations: Proof and Persons; Four Health Care Rights; Rights, Clarity, and Ideals Part III: Reforms 8. Market Reforms: Pure Competition; A Hobbled Market 9. DRGs, HMOs, and Vouchers: Price Controls; Prepaid Group Practice; Cash and Voucher Plans 10. National Health Care Plans: Medicare and Medicaid; National Health Insurance; A National Health Care Service

Notes:

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.--Publisher's description.

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographies and index.

Description based on metadata supplied by the publisher and other sources.

ISBN:

1-280-52341-7

9786610523412

0-19-974867-5

1-4294-0099-4

OCLC:

243614159