Is Health Care a Right?

           I got extremely lucky in finding a juicy article from the Argument! textbook, as I had flipped open directly to the question "Is Health Care a Right?"  This topic is very interesting to me because I am currently in the medical field and plan to pursue a career in it.  I also believe that this topic will be somewhat interesting to the rest of the class because everybody is human, and capable of being effected by disease or infection.
          The author explains that poorer people are less likely  to live healthy life styles because healthy choices are so costly.  Cheaper food is typically not very nutritious and can lead to obesity and other major health risks.  The poorer and less healthy people are also more likely to attempt self medicating themselves and ultimately become drug and/or alcohol abusers, which also shows negative effects on health.  These individuals that need medical attention and do not exactly have the money for it are still able to get help, but is it a right?
          This article explains that there are some problems going on where wealthier people are complaining about those people that need Health Care but do not have the money to pay for it.  Doctors and surgeons are especial worried about this issue as one surgeon alone is providing care for free that would annually calculate to an estimated 180,000 dollars.  This is money that the surgeon could be adding to his salary, however never sees a dime of it.  Doctors and surgeons are quite unhappy with performing their jobs for free.  The article explains that they do not perform their jobs out of the "goodness of their hearts," but because they are obligated to by the federal law.
          This article finished off by saying, "We need a system that is fairer, both for patients and doctors."  I am one hundred percent in favor of this.  I do believe that everyone should be eligible to receive health care, however the professionals that are required to perform their job functions by law should be benefited in some way or another.  Some sort of payment should be made for these skilled individuals, whether it is from the patient themselves paying a reduced bill gradually over time or some sort of tax that could contribute to the doctor or surgeon's salary.  I believe that everybody should still be eligible to receive health care when needed and that those who have been doing this care for free in the past should be granted with some sort of benefit.