Compare and contrast medical care as being either a right or a commodity

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Considering the founding fathers of this country proclaimed that all men are created equal and entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," one could surmise that medical care was a right that should be available to every citizen. The creation of a socialized medical system where every citizen has an equal opportunity for medical care would support such a philosophical ideal. But on the other hand, medical care in the United States has taken on the quality of being more of a commodity, not a right, that is sold to those who can afford it. Even those who have medical insurance are handicapped by the quality of care their insurance will pay for. "Bean counters" at HMOs and other health care providers decide if the health care customer is entitled to a procedure or treatment recommended by an attending physician which often compromises the health of the patient. Only those who have unlimited funds and can pay for any medical test or treatment they may need benefit the most from the health care system.