Freedom and Equality

As discussed in class, the ideas of freedom/liberty and equality are present in most arguments and are directly derived from the capability approach. After realizing that these ideas are fundamental to the argument for gay rights, I have been on the look-out for other contexts where they arise.

I realized that these ideas have emerged in many issues surrounding global health and health inequalities. In my global health class, we have been reading and discussing Dr. Paul Farmer, a physician and anthropologist known for his humanitarian work providing “first world” health care to the world’s poor and marginalized people. Farmer believes that the poor not only deserve to receive the same medical care as wealthier patients, but should even be prioritized. People should not suffer and die when medication or treatment exists in the world. He argues that we are morally responsible for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized populations. There is a collective responsibility for the “haves” to provide for the “have nots”.

This stance falls in line with many of the ideas of the capability approach. The poor and vulnerable should have the freedom to reach their full potential and live the life they wish to live. Health care should be equitable: the poor and the rich should be treated the same. People should not go untreated and die from AIDS, malaria, TB, etc. when treatments exist for those who can pay. The capability approach also provided a foundation for the idea that the community is responsible for the development and well-being of the individual. 

I think these same issues also arise in the current health care debate in the United States. Proponents of universal health care believe that we have a collective responsibility to make sure everybody receives health care. If health care is a human right, then all populations should have access. Opponents don’t want universal health care because they don’t want their tax money to cover health care for those who can’t pay, because they don’t feel a sense of responsibility. Regardless of responsibility, equality in access to health care and freedom surrounding health care are fundamental ideas surrounding the debate