Universal health care: What would Socrates do?

Raphael, The School of Athens

Source: Paula Muhlestein

I loved this post from the Widener Law Health Law Institute blog. It’s both wise and entertaining. Here are a few excerpts, but I recommend reading the whole post.

AGORAS: Is it true, Socrates, that a good person must support the right of all to healthcare?
SOCRATES: Agoras, thou art without doubt a good man, so tell me how thou would answer thy question?
AGORAS: With uncertainty and concern. For if all are to have healthcare without increasing or degrading the existing supply of medical resources, will not then I and my family receive less care than we now do?
SOCRATES: Then must you ask yourself, how comfortable are you receiving care if it means others will not?
AGORAS: Uncomfortable, to be sure, Esteemed Teacher. But are there not rationales that would let me continue to think myself good, even if others must do without?
SOCRATES: Good to yourself and your family, you mean?
AGORAS: I was hoping to lay claim on a somewhat more expansive virtue. Look, I don’t mind running the second mile for Widows and Orpheus, but it is quite another thing to do so for Shiftlus and Indolentus. The latter has done nothing to provide for himself and his family; the former has undoubtedly found some way to game the system and take a ride on my tax drachma. And worse yet, there is Illegal Alienus. Why should I pick up the check for him and his family? …
SOCRATES: What manner of care would you withhold from others?
AGORAS: Oh oh. I don’t like the direction this seems to be taking. I don’t suppose you would settle for just enough to keep them alive.

Socrates goes on to enumerate why health care does not belong in a consumer-driven, free-market system. The dialogue concludes:

AGORAS: So, bottom line, how would you answer my question: To be a good person, do I need to support the idea that access to healthcare is a universal right?
SOCRATES: I might ask the question a different way.
AGORAS: But not answer it. Why am I not surprised? So how would you ask it?
SOCRATES: How about, “Is it good that all be well-cared for?”
AGORAS: That’s easy.
SOCRATES: And, “Should everyone strive to advance the good?”
AGORAS: I hear there’s a hemlock latte with your name on it down at Astrobucks, by the way. Don’t miss it.

Related posts:
Keith Olbermann & the Fight against Death
Why is it so hard to reform healthcare? Rugged individualism
A reason for health care reform