Care (20 points possible). For this assignment I want you to research and write a 2 page paper which should include: A description of what medicine and health care consisted of in the decade the constitution was written 1780’s-1790’s. An argument to include health care as a right to all citizens in these important documents; and a description of how you’d be perceived?
Title: Medicine and Healthcare during the Constitutional Era: An Argument for Universal Access
Introduction:
The decade of the 1780s-1790s, during which the United States Constitution was written, witnessed a unique landscape of medicine and healthcare. In this paper, we will explore the nature of medicine and healthcare during this era, discuss the argument for including healthcare as a right for all citizens in the Constitution, and consider how such a perspective may have been perceived in that historical context.
Medicine and Healthcare in the Constitutional Era:
The period spanning the 1780s-1790s was marked by limited medical knowledge, rudimentary healthcare practices, and a fragmented healthcare system. Physicians relied heavily on theories inherited from European medical traditions, such as the humoral theory, which posited that an imbalance of bodily humors caused illness. Medical treatments often consisted of bleeding, purging, and the administration of herbal remedies. Surgical interventions were crude due to the absence of anesthesia, antiseptics, and standardized surgical techniques.
The availability of healthcare varied greatly depending on geographical location and socioeconomic status. In urban areas, hospitals and infirmaries existed primarily for the poor and indigent, while wealthier individuals could afford private physicians who would make house calls. Rural communities often relied on midwives and herbalists for their healthcare needs. Professionalization of medical practice was still in its early stages, and a significant proportion of healthcare was delivered by lay practitioners.
Healthcare as a Constitutional Right:
In light of the context of healthcare during the Constitutional era, the argument for including healthcare as a right for all citizens in the Constitution can be examined. Although the founders did not explicitly address healthcare in the Constitution, they laid the groundwork for such inclusion through broader principles related to liberty, welfare, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Declaration of Independence, a precursor to the Constitution, proclaims that all individuals have unalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. One could argue that access to healthcare is a fundamental component of the right to life. A society that values life should strive to ensure that its citizens have access to adequate and affordable healthcare services.
Furthermore, the Constitution’s preamble states its purpose as promoting the general welfare. Health is undeniably a vital aspect of the overall welfare of citizens. Ensuring access to healthcare can prevent unnecessary suffering, disability, and premature death. By securing healthcare as a right, the Constitution would fulfill its mission of promoting the general welfare.
Perception of Healthcare as a Right in the Constitutional Era:
Considering how healthcare as a right would have been perceived during the constitutional era requires immersion in the political and social climate of the time. The Founding Fathers were concerned with limited government intervention and prioritized individual liberties. They were wary of creating a strong central government that could infringe upon the rights of states and individuals.
During this period, the prevailing perspective was that government should have limited involvement in individual affairs. Consequently, the idea of healthcare as a right may have been met with resistance. The prevailing belief was that individuals were responsible for their own well-being, and it was not the government’s role to provide healthcare services.
Arguments against including healthcare as a right in the Constitution may have stemmed from concerns over the potential infringement on individual freedom, potential unsustainable financial burdens on the government, and fears of expanding the powers of the central government beyond its intended scope.
Conclusion:
The decade of the 1780s-1790s witnessed a healthcare landscape characterized by limited medical knowledge and a fragmented healthcare system. Despite the absence of explicit provisions for healthcare in the Constitution, arguments for including healthcare as a right can be derived from broad principles such as the right to life and the pursuit of happiness, as well as the duty to promote the general welfare. However, the notion of healthcare as a right may have been met with resistance during the constitutional era, reflecting the prevailing political and social beliefs of limited government intervention and personal responsibility.
Word count: 699.