Beginning with the two opposing viewpoints on the topic of universal healthcare explained in the text, complete and submit a short (750- to 1000-word) reflective research project in which you clearly state and defend a thesis on the topic.
Your essay should make good use of the two articles from the text as well as two (2) additional outside sources, such as those linked in this module. The position you defend should be informed by a particular moral principle (moral principles were introduced in Module 1, and may include the principle of distributive justice) and should make meaningful reference to the chapters from the textbook and the supplemental articles. You may also use additional academic resources. Be sure to cite all outside sources (including textbook readings, supplemental articles, and any additional research) used in developing your argument, using APA format.
Your essay will be evaluated on your selection, interpretation, and application of the relevant moral principle (as well as the texts and articles that we have studied in this module) to support your argument. Evaluation of your word choice, spelling, and punctuation, as well as the organization of your essay, are included in the grade determination. Before you begin, please refer to the Reflection Essay rubric for comprehensive grading criteria. Finally, remember that while the empirical data and research are certainly relevant and important in this area, the thesis that you defend and the argument you submit are not empirical; you are developing and defending a normative argument about what is the morally correct position in this case. [MO1, 2]
Textbook Readings
- Contemporary Debates in Bioethics, Part 10: Should the United States of America Adopt Universal Healthcare? (Chapters 19 and 20)
Additional Resources
Explore the following sites:
- Sanger-Katz, M. (2019, February 19). The Difference Between a ‘Public Option’ and ‘Medicare for All’? Let’s Define Our Terms.
- Friedman, G (2018, May 21). The Moral and Practical Case for Universal Healthcare Coverage.
Bloom, D. E., Khoury, A., & Subbaraman, R. (2018). The promise and peril of universal health care. Science, 361(6404).
