A Right? A Privilege? Something Else?

Over the course of American history, there has been a constant back and forth about whether healthcare is a right. Below you will see a collection of historical quotes.

"The humblest patient is entitled to the best of medical service." - Dr. J. Bowman, 1918 (President of American Medical Association [AMA])

"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care." - U.N. Declaration of human rights, 1948

"Medical Care is neither a right nor a privilege: it is a service that is provided by doctors and others to people who wish to purchase it." - Dr. R. M. Sade, 1971 (AMA President)

"...everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."- B. Obama, 2010 (during the signing of Affordable Care Act, aka "Obamacare")

After reading the above quotes and the assigned reading by Atul GawandeIs Health Care a Right? | The New Yorker.pdfDownload Is Health Care a Right? | The New Yorker.pdf, please respond to the following questions. Once you have responded, please also respond to 3 of your classmates' responses.

1) Do you believe that healthcare in this country is a right, a privilege, or something else? And why do you believe this?

2) Should healthcare in this country be a right for all persons? Why or Why not?

3) Is there a subpopulation of people that you believe should have healthcare as a right? If so, which?