The Healthcare Divide (Full Documentary) | FRONTLINE (Link to Video – https://youtu.be/UVvEkeH4O8o)
– How pressure to increase profits and uneven government support are widening the divide between rich and poor hospitals, endangering care for low-income populations.
– NOTE: This is a full-length documentary and thus can count as the two required videos for this assignment.
Thoughtfully reflect on the issues discussed in the talks you have viewed. Address the following points in your essay:
1) What is the speaker’s point of view about the topic? Is the speaker biased?
2) What ethical issues and ethical reasoning are argued?
3) Do you think that the issues discussed have moral and ethical implications? Why or why not?
4) Do you agree with the speaker’s point of view? Be specific and thorough. Express how and why you agree or disagree and discuss how ethics and values contribute to your opinion.
5) Consider the theoretical concepts discussed in the course. Do not just state your viewpoint, rather provide relevant details to support your findings and/or position.
The speaker in The Healthcare Divide documentary presents a point of view that there is an increasing divide between rich and poor hospitals, leading to poorer care for those with low-income populations. The speaker states that this divide is due largely to the pressure placed on hospitals to increase profits and the uneven distribution of government support. He argues that these factors have caused an inequitable system of health care delivery, which has led to disparities in access, quality and cost of care across different economic groups.
The ethical issues discussed in the video include fairness and justice, particularly when it comes to the unequal access or availability of resources based on socio-economic status. Additionally, the documentary addresses accountability amongst healthcare providers for ensuring equitable treatment regardless of race or class. It also highlights how power dynamics can impact decision making within both healthcare organizations and government agencies tasked with regulating them. Furthermore, it touches upon how decisions made by hospital administrators are often driven by profit motives rather than patient well-being or societal benefits as a whole.
I believe that there are moral implications associated with these issues because they involve basic rights such as the right to health care for all citizens regardless of their income level or other social characteristics. When individuals do not have equitable access to adequate health services due to financial differences among hospitals, then inequality ensues and creates injustice in our society. This can lead to negative outcomes such as poorer health outcomes or higher mortality rates among certain populations who cannot afford better care options at wealthier institutions. Therefore, I think it is essential that we strive towards creating fairer systems so everyone can receive appropriate care when necessary regardless of socioeconomic divisions between us all.
Overall I agree with the speaker’s point of view regarding this issue since greater equity would help ensure people are able get adequate medical attention whenever needed without worrying about cost limitations getting in their way. In my opinion ethics play an important role here because it involves respect for others’ welfare especially when resources are limited – whether related directly (as with funds) or indirectly (through time). For instance if one hospital had significantly more funding than another then patients from lower-income areas may be disadvantaged since they might experience less efficient service due lack time necessary spend on each case compared higher funded counterparts have available them— even though they need just same amount attention medical treatments require remain same regardless where located geographically speaking not every facility will have same number resources available its disposal depending area situated too etcetera thus having ability spread out these facilities evenly throughout region contribute greater fairness overall Finally theories explored course also come into picture when assessing situation example utilitarianism entails pursuing path produces greatest good greatest number which itself implies form equality distributing supplies appropriately meets criteria mentioned previously