In Australia it’s easy to take our health care system for granted. Even those who can’t afford private health insurance can get ready access to quality, cheap and, for the most part, prompt medical help.
Compared to the mess of the United States’ system, not to mention the lack of basic access to medical treatment in third world countries, Australia must rate as one of the best health care systems in the world.
However, it seems that not everyone is treated equally under our health care system after all.
Recently, Claire Murray, a former drug addict and dying young mother, was refused a place on the transplant waiting list after her initial liver transplant failed when she resumed her drug habit last year.
The Western Australian Government has since agreed to loan Murray's family $250,000 to pay for the operation in Singapore.
Is this fair? Does all the ‘blame’ for addiction and its subsequent damage to the body lie with this young woman? Regardless, don’t we have a moral/ethical responsibility to preserve life no matter what?
If the logic for this decision is extended, shouldn’t people with obesity be refused treatment for diabetes or other associated illness because they continue to refuse to lead a healthy lifestyle? If this was the case, half of Australia would be facing imminent death.
What do you think?
1 Comment
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butterflychaser
almost 2 years ago
She ended up dying in Singapore. It's a hard one, but I think that we do have an ethical/moral responsibility to preserve life in this situation. That said, not sure if I'd feel the same if the person needing the transplant had been a murderer/rapist.
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