Deck 9: Sam Fleishacker & Sherry Glied and Chris Freiman, “Right to Healthcare”

Question 1

In his essay, Chris Freiman affirms, "what makes for a good life for you depends in part on the particulars of who you are." In your essay, explain what Freiman means by this. Then, consider: what does it look like to apply this point when it comes to the way that we protect people's rights? In other words, how can we balance each individual's wellbeing against our government's duty to protect all people's rights? Be sure to consider the way that this affects the healthcare debate.

Answer 1

Explain Freiman's understanding of the "good life" as being particular for individual persons
Illustrate what a balance of universal rights protection and respect of individual goods looks like, and
Offer a defense of this illustration
Link this descriptive illustration to the wider healthcare debate, perhaps drawing from either essay

Question 2

In their essay, Sam Fleishacker and Sherry Glied argue that the right to healthcare is based in freedom, saying, "If health care is a condition for the ability to make free choices, then there is a case for a right to health care that even libertarians should respect." This claim helps to illustrate their commitment to making an argument that both traditional rightists and leftists can get behind. In your essay, identify one of the arguments that that the authors make to defend their claim that healthcare is a right based in freedom. Then, develop one objection to the argument you've selected. What should the authors say in response?

Answer 2

Identify one of the authors' arguments for the claim that healthcare is a right based in freedom (arguments found in the sections "The Significance of Freedom," "From Welfare Rights to a Healthcare Right," and "A Right Too Much?")
Develop an objection to the identified argument
Explore at least one potential response to the objection

Question 3

In their reply, Sam Fleishacker and Sherry Glied offer an analogy about a corrupt town's new mayor. At the end of their analogy, they state:
We can leave the provision of headphones entirely up to the free choices of individuals, but we can't do that with health care. Since health is a condition for choice, rather than simply a result of it, leaving it up to the market alone imposes costs that can in the long run deprive many people of their ability to choose freely at all.
In your essay, explain the authors' analogy and this concluding statement. What point are they making? Then, develop one objection to their concluding statement. Why might someone deny that such long run risks are sufficient to establish a right to healthcare specifically?

Answer 3

Explicate both the authors' analogy between a corrupt town's new mayor and giving up health care in favor of other, less necessary goods and their concluding statement
Develop an objection to the authors' concluding statement
A strong objection will address the authors' perception that cash provision is in tension with individuals' freedom. Perhaps, this objection will draw from Freiman's defense of healthcare provision

Question 4

In their essay, Fleishacker and Glied affirm that on liberal theories of government, the prime reason for governments to act is the protection or enhancement of individual _____:

A) Freedom
B) Autonomy
C) Wellbeing
D) Security

Question 5

In their essay, Fleishacker and Glied object to what claim?

A) Welfare as a right is impracticable
B) Health care is a condition for freedom
C) It is possible to define a right to healthcare
D) The state itself shouldn't distribute healthcare

Question 6

In their essay, Fleishacker and Glied list three features of healthcare that make it different from other goods or services. Which of the following is NOT one of those features?

A) The need for care is often urgent
B) It protects citizens' right to life
C) It can be very costly relative to family budget
D) It is often unpredictable

Question 7

In his essay, Freiman states "I believe that people do have a right to healthcare."

Question 8

In his essay, Freiman claims that his argument for cash appeals to the diversity of people's opinions about what two things?

A) The proper flexibility and versatility of the healthcare system
B) The incorrectness of coercion and manipulation
C) The effectiveness and importance of naturopathy
D) The right kind and amount of healthcare to consume

Question 9

In his essay, Freiman affirms the that a state sponsored healthcare package of in-kind provision is not as _____ as providing citizens with cash:

A) Practical
B) Responsible
C) Efficient
D) Flexible

Question 10

In their reply, Fleishacker and Glied close with an analogy. What is their analogy about?

A) Headphones
B) A bank teller
C) A town mayor
D) Lifesavers

Question 11

In his reply, Freiman affirms that Fleishacker and Glied's position on the right to healthcare is compatible with what?

A) The provision of in kind healthcare
B) The restriction of freedom
C) The provision of a basic income
D) The downfall of the healthcare system

Question 12

Through the authors' responses, it becomes clear that they agree on multiple things. Which of the following is NOT a statement that the Fleishacker, Glied, and Freiman agree on?

A) It is possible to justify a right to healthcare by an appeal to freedom
B) All citizens have a right to healthcare
C) States have an obligation to establish institutions that give access to healthcare
D) People should receive life-saving care when they need it

Question 13

Which of the author(s)' reply includes the statement that: "A collective decision to provide life-saving care must constrain individual decisions about what coverage to purchase."

A) Fleischacker and Glied
B) Freiman