Does a just society offer its citizens some minimal level of medical care?

Yes, I think a just society offers its citizens some minimal level of medical care despite the fact
that it increases insurance rates and taxes for everyone. I think it is unjust to allow someone like
Rosalyn Schwartz who is raising one child and also lost her healthcare coverage due to divorce
to pay $4, 000 per year for insurance cover which would eliminate her actual health issues,
which included, cancer and an ulcer as they were “preexisting conditions” (Medical Ethics pg.
333). She later died of cancer after she was unable to pay for her treatments..

How would that minimal level be defined?

Minimal level of healthcare can be defined as the primary health care that is given to citizens and
it is easily accessible to everyone in the society.

Is enhancement always cheating?

What if no one else is affected?

Does it make sense to say one can ‘cheat oneself’ when one is fully aware of the
consequences and freely choose them?

It does not make sense because it is choice they have made and are well aware of as provided by
the many examples in the book. For example, “Tess” is able to function more freely and happy in
her life and I do not consider that as cheating herself.

sWhich issue that we covered in this class was the most difficult for you?

The most difficult issue for me covered in the class was the case involving Baby Fae. It is very
shocking to discover that a baboon’s hear had to be used instead of a human heart simply
because of its availability that morning. It really broke my heart when Bailey said, “we were not
searching for a human heart” (Media Ethics pg. 256) and Baby Fae’s family who were not
medical professionals had no option but to authorize what was suggested.

Which was the most interesting?

The requests to die from all types of patients (terminal and non-terminal) were really mind
blowing. As Elizabeth Boulvia stated with regards to death, “it is being able to be free of my
physical disability and mental struggle to live” (Medical Ethics pg. 19). In my opinion I think it
would be fit to advice the patients on this issue appropriately and leave it to them to decide
whether they want to live or die.

Which issue will help you most in the future?

I think the entire book brought out a lot of new experiences and cases hence I am not sure I can
pick a specific issue as I regard all of them to be helpful in future. The book describes both sides
of a case which make it easier to form an opinion.