Download Mary Rossio Concordia University Week 7 As mentioned previously

Mary Rossio
Concordia University
Week 7
As mentioned previously, the determination of whether government should regulate the
behavior of individuals in the name of health requires policymakers to go beyond the
questions of efficiency and political acceptability. What moral warrant is there for such
intervention? Does such a warrant also impose an obligation on the part of government to
intercede? Does paternalistic government oversight and interaction overshadow individual
rights in a time of crisis, or for that matter, at any time? What is a right?
First and foremost, policymakers must have everyone’s best interest in mind when
considering a new law or regulation. The complicated part is who is best to decide what the best
is, the individual or the government. I do feel that an individual should be able to make their
own decisions in regards to their life/health but not if others can be impacted in a negative or
harmful way. “Given the commitment to individual autonomy, state actions are difficult to
justify” (Bayer & Moreno, n.d.). One’s decision of what they feel is right or justifiable, may be
best for them but may directly impact the life/health of others in a not so positive way. In my
opinion, this can test the moral warrants of individuals.
I feel that a good reference point is the Hippocratic Oath of “to do no harm”. If we all
lived in compliance with meaning of this oath, we may not feel the need to fight for individual
rights. The community may have more of a focus as a whole rather than a biased opinion. If an
individual’s choice puts others at risk, than I believe that this warrants an intervention.
Politically speaking, the government has an obligation to keep the public safe and free of
avoidable conditions/circumstances. “The goal of justifiable paternalism is to protect the
individual from the consequences of actions that he or she would not choose to engage in where
the capacity for free choice truly present” (Bayer & Moreno, n.d.). Yes, we live in the land of
the free, but that doesn’t give us the right to inflict judgement or ill intentions on others. Without
standards, laws, and policies, we would live in a world of uncertainty and chaos. So therefor,
there are times where the government must step in.
References
Bayer, R., & Moreno, J. (n.d.). Health Promotion: Ethical and Social Dilemmas of Government
Policy. Retrieved 15 April 2015, from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/5/2/72.full.pdf.
Greek Medicine - The Hippocratic Oath. (2002, September 16). Retrieved 15 April 2015, from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/greek/greek_oath.html.