ethics paper due in 6 hours

Running head: MEDICAL TOURISM

MEDICAL TOURISM 9

Medical Tourism

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Abstract

Identification is not just the ability of an individual to be aware of the right decision that should be taken but also recognizing the ethical consequences of the given decision. The case study provided tend to highlight cost savings as the central ethical issue. It does this by highlighting the dilemma facing Amy of whether to resolve to outsourcing so as to meet her medical treatment. Further, as one proceeds through the case, ethical issues like quality, availability and accessibility are also outlined. To solve the puzzle ahead of her, Amy should resolve on the following procedures. She should definitely outsource her treatment so as to be able to at least save some excessive money that would have been charged if she could have been treated in the United States. By doing this, she will be able to take photos along the way, as she is about to start a photography studio. Moreover, this shows that patients will tend to have a preference for health care that is affordable to them. The circumstances facing Amy can best be described using act-utilitarianism and natural rights theories, both of which advocates for the necessity of making individuals happy and equality for all, respectively.

Identification

The process of identification involves the awareness that decision needs to be made but also the recognition of the ethical implications of that decision (Nicholas Manias, 2013). The central ethical issue of the case study is cost savings. In this dilemma, Amy has to decide whether to outsource her medical treatment, that is, cosmetic medical procedure or not. Moreover, we have other ethical issues such as availability, quality, and accessibility.

What should Amy do about her medical treatment?

Research

According to the case study concerning the medical tourism, many people prefer outsourcing the medical treatment in the name of lowering the cost of treatment. The key motivator for the patients to seek medication abroad is due to the fact that they want to save excessive of funds during treatment (Matheson, 2009). Availability of healthcare that is affordable is an act the appeals patients so much especially those patients who do not have medical insurance in their countries. Therefore, in our case, it would be advisable if Amy prefers to seek medication abroad, that is, outside America, because firstly she like travelling so it will not complicate her career and also she like starting a photography studio thus she will have that moment of taking photographs in her treatment journey.

Moreover, it will be encouraging if she seeks for her cosmetic medical procedure or cosmetic surgeries because of various reasons; one, it will be costly for her to receive medication in the United States because she is uninsured, that is, she has no medical insurance (Matheson, 2009). Also, she does not have anadequate amount of money to cater for her entire medication in U.S. On top of outsourced medication being cheaper compared to the in U.S., India has a goodreputation and true history about having the best health industry worldwide.India had got the best specialists, nurses, best technology to cater for a various number of diseases that patients may be suffering from. Moreover, it is evident that if a patient from the United Kingdom plans to visit India for medical tourism, he or she has high chances of saving better unlike if he or she agrees to seek for medical service in his or her country. Additionally, nowadays when we consider the international travels, they are trouble-free and they price of moving from one continent to another for medication is affordable (Jagyasi, 2014). Improved communication channels and opportunities have also contributed a lot in finding and contacting medical services and center overseas.

Analysis

Stakeholders	Option1	Option2	Option 3
	Seeking from medication abroad and country	If one finds it impossible seeking for medical treatment abroad, one can acquire the medical insurance to be catering for his or her medication	Moreover, one may choose to become a foreign medical tourist so that one can enjoy the benefits of the Indian Public funding which have channeled into Indian private medical institutions
United State citizens	This option might affect a large number of people, people dwelling in countries such as US and other countries that charge high prices for medication will suffer a lot since they are not financially stable to cater for the medical services	This option will prompt large number of Americans to seek for medical insurance in their states since they fear the prices charged for treatment if one lacks medical insurance. Moreover, they may be a in a position to protect themselves from infections in foreign countries.	The whole process will require a lot of money, that is, for flight and catering other services like food, shelter and also the treatment.
Amy	If Amy seeks for medical treatment abroad this will help in cutting cost for her treatment. She will be able to save.	Amy opted to seek medical abroad due lack of medical insurance but if she acquires it, then there will be no need of going abroad to seek medication.	If Amy becomes a frequent foreign tourist for medication, she will be in a position of receiving the benefits offered by the Indian Public funding
Amy’s family	Rising the cost for her treatment in foreign countries	This lessens the burden of a family since if each one of the Amy’s family has medical insurance there will no need of seeking medication services abroad.	Amy’s family will lack her presence of the time especially if she has husband and children. Moreover, Amy’s family might save more because if she continue receiving medication from abroad, then it means she will enjoy subsidized treatment
Government	May lack money from health sector if majority of people seek medication abroad	If people get medical insurance the government will able to get tax charges from those medical insurance and thus be in a position to continue improving the health sector.	No way government will be affected by the benefits offered in foreign countries

Applications

I will be using the Act Utilitarian and the Natural Rights theories.

The Act Utilitarianism and natural rights theory

The circumstances surrounding the nature in which the United States provides healthcare to its uninsured citizens can best be described using the Act Utilitarianism and Natural Rights theories. The first one is a portion of the renowned ethical theories regarding utilitarianism. These types of theories advocates for the necessity of maximizing the utility amount i.e. the act of maximizing the amount of happiness across the globe. Further, under this section of the deliverable, two types of ethical theories will be highlighted and how they relate to the case of Amy Smith. The two includes Act Utilitarianism and Natural Rights theories.

a. Act Utilitarianism

This ethical theory pushes for the necessity of individuals to consider acting in a manner that will not just benefit them but also a greater portion of the human population. This can be achieved by the United States if it starts initiatives that will see most of its citizens insured and hence being able to access basic health care. Moreover, the same government can increase its funding towards the public health facilities to subsidize the cost of access the cost of accessing care for low-income individuals.

However, critics argue that act-utilitarianism tend to be extra permissive, with the ability to justify any criminal act, and even elevating it to be considered a moral obligatory, especially when just some given value of a given consequence is considered to be great enough (Smart, & Williams, 1993). There are some corner of critics who say that act-utilitarianism is better achieved on paper than in reality. This implies that they see it as being better when theoretically explained than when it is put into practice, due to the fact that nobody always takes the chance of predicting how the consequences of an act will turn out. Further, when using act-utilitarianism, there is little that is always done to assess the value of the acts, and then compare them with those acts that would be alternatively taken.

b. Natural Rights Theories

Majority of the world’s population today are aware of their rights as citizens of their respective countries. This is what brings out the natural rights which are those that are basically enjoyed by individuals and range from right to life, pursuit of happiness, and liberty. These types of rights have a basis on the political theories which says that every citizen has a right that the government cannot take away from them, regardless of where they stay. Like in the case of Amy Smith, she has a right to access affordable health-care. In the case where these types of fundamental rights are not being provided then it can be said that form of monopolistic use of authority is being exercised. The United States government have the responsibility and legal obligation of ensuring that the healthcare system it has promotes equality when it comes to accessing care but not just a few insured individuals. In fact, during it the declaration of independence, John Locke, argued that all men have been created equal and that no one should be discriminated (Tierney, 2001). Therefore, as an American Citizen, Amy Smith, and other millions of individuals should be incorporated into the insurance companies so as to access affordable care, or the government can opt to increase its subsidy towards public health care centers so as to make then affordable.

References

Jagyasi, D.P.(2014). Is medical tourism cost effective in India? Retrieved from http://www.medicaltourism.com/blog/is-medical-tourism-cost-effective-in-India/.

Lee, M.S. (2012). Medical Tourism Raises Ethical Concern. Retrieved from http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/10/26/medical-tourism-book/.

Manias, N., Monroe, D., &Till, J. E. (2013).Ethics Applied (7.0th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Learning Solutions. Page 92.

Matheson. (2009). The pros and cons of medical tourism. Retrieved from h ttp://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=66db0ce5-f789-4677-9699-0 7d0660cda79

Smart, J. J. C., & Williams, B. A. O. (1993). Utilitarianism: For and against. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press.

Tierney, B. (2001). The idea of natural rights: Studies on natural rights, natural law, and church law, 1150-1625. Grand Rapids, Mich. [u.a.: Eerdman.