HEALTH CARE AND ACCESS
BACKGROUND READING
The first reading is a contextual piece. Non-utilitarian in approach, Lewis Laptham's essay, Memento Mori, reflects on life and death. I include this piece because of its humor, its breadth and depth, and because after all, health care and access only become issues within the context of life and death.
The second article by Cornell University economist Robert Frank provides an excellent review of how the American health care benefits came into being. His article, Giving Health Care a Chance to Evolve, published in the New York Times in June, 2012, remains relevant. It speaks to the basis from which our health care system continues to evolve!
Peter Singer, the well-known Princeton University ethicist, has written an essay, Why We Must Ration Health Care. What are your thoughts on his argument and his approach?
BACKGROUND READINGS FOR CLASS - MENTAL HEALTH
CONVERSATION PIECES ON OTHER HEALTH CARE ISSUES
Each of the following pieces presents an aspect of health care begging for ethical consideration.
Even a cursory review of these articles gives a sense of the breadth and complexity of issues our contemporary world encounters. Rather than feel overwhelmed by the enormity and complexity of issues, consider the value to our civilization that we are able to gather this data, review the situations, and have these discussions. That we have choices gives us both power and responsibility.
MENTAL HEALTH READINGS
Brian, The Mentally Ill Bonobo and How He Healed
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/brian-the-mentally-ill-bonobo-and-how-he-healed/372596/
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BACKGROUND READING
The first reading is a contextual piece. Non-utilitarian in approach, Lewis Laptham's essay, Memento Mori, reflects on life and death. I include this piece because of its humor, its breadth and depth, and because after all, health care and access only become issues within the context of life and death.
The second article by Cornell University economist Robert Frank provides an excellent review of how the American health care benefits came into being. His article, Giving Health Care a Chance to Evolve, published in the New York Times in June, 2012, remains relevant. It speaks to the basis from which our health care system continues to evolve!
Peter Singer, the well-known Princeton University ethicist, has written an essay, Why We Must Ration Health Care. What are your thoughts on his argument and his approach?
BACKGROUND READINGS FOR CLASS - MENTAL HEALTH
- "Brian, The Mentally Ill Bonobo and How He Healed," by Alexis Madrigal, The Atlantic, June 11, 2014.
- "I Am Adam Lanzas' Mother ," by Liza Long, The Huffington Post, December 16, 2012.
- "When Stopping Crime Begins With Mental Health," by Jennifer Hemmingsen, The Gazette, March 28, 2014.
- "Mental Health and US Capitol Trespasser Shot," by Michael Pearson, Lateef Mungin, and Deborah Feyerick, CNN Politics, October 3, 2013.
- Insanity Defense FAQ's, Frontline, PBS.
CONVERSATION PIECES ON OTHER HEALTH CARE ISSUES
Each of the following pieces presents an aspect of health care begging for ethical consideration.
- "Shifting ethics: debating the incentive question in organ transplantation," by Donald Joralemon, J. of Medical Ethics, 2001;27:30-35.
- "A Reminder that Giving Clean Needles to Drug Addicts is Worth Every Penny," by Mike Riggs, The Atlantic, Sept, 26, 2013.
- "Millions of Poor Are Left Uncovered by Health Law," by Sabrina Tavernise and Robert Gebeloff, New York Times, Oct 2, 2013.
- "Occam's Razor Resharpened," by Mike Rainone, Pharmaceutical Processing Blog, Sept 2010.
- "Strained by Katrina, a Hospital Faced Deadly Choices," by Sheri Fink, The New York Times, August 30, 2009.
Even a cursory review of these articles gives a sense of the breadth and complexity of issues our contemporary world encounters. Rather than feel overwhelmed by the enormity and complexity of issues, consider the value to our civilization that we are able to gather this data, review the situations, and have these discussions. That we have choices gives us both power and responsibility.
MENTAL HEALTH READINGS
Brian, The Mentally Ill Bonobo and How He Healed
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/brian-the-mentally-ill-bonobo-and-how-he-healed/372596/
,