Social Justice in the US Healthcare System

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Social justice is a relatively broad concept, the interpretation of which often depends on the political and economic views of an individual. In my opinion, a just healthcare system is designed to compensate for social inequalities and provide an adequate level of care for the disadvantaged and marginalized communities. This concept is based on the essential principles that define democratic society, where individuals are treated equally regardless of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation (Bhugra, 2016). Unlike socialized medicine, which pertains exclusively to government regulations, social justice can be achieved through community involvement. Nurses and other healthcare professionals play a key role in this process, as they have the power to remediate social inequalities through their work and advocacy efforts.

The US healthcare system is often criticized for its unfairness. African Americans suffer the consequences of centuries of discrimination and segregation and continue to be the least healthy ethnic minority in the country (Noonan et al., 2016). Overall, the accessibility of medical services for underserved communities remains one of the most pressing issues in American society. Even though several attempts have been made in the past to make the system more balanced through the introduction of Medicaid and Medicare programs, they have also led to the emergence of new social justice issues (Almgren, 2017). The social stigma associated with the Medicaid recipient status provides another basis for discrimination against underprivileged groups.

The prospects of a major health care reform remain vague due to polarized opinions on the topic among Democrats and Republicans. However, if such reform were introduced, and disadvantaged members of society had adequate access to medical services at all times, it would lead to several noticeable changes. For example, there would be no issues with overcrowded emergency rooms, as members of low-income households would have access to the full range of medical services. Therefore, the statistics on emergency room visitors would accurately represent the US ethnic demographics rather than serve as an indicator of economic disparities between different groups of people.

References

Almgren, G. (2017). Health care politics, policy, and services: A social justice aalysis (3^rd ed.). Springer.

Bhugra, D. (2016). Social discrimination and social justice. International Review of Psychiatry, 28(4), 336-341. Web.

Noonan, A. S., Velasco-Mondragon, H. E., & Wagner, F. A. (2016). Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: An overdue opportunity for social justice. Public Health Reviews, 37, 12. Web.

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