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BELOW IS 2 DISCUSSIONS THAT I AM TO RESPOND TO WITH INPUT/FEEDBACK WITH ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTION. ANSWER DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LONG AND REFERENCE SHOULD BE NOTED

DISCUSSION 1 

Social justice has been defined and interpreted differently from different perspective and view point by different people. Everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities. Social justices refers to equal delivery of care to everyone in the society irrespective of their economic or social status. Social medicine on the other hand is a health system that is controlled and financed by the government, while communism is a society in which all property is held by the government and everyone works and is compensated according to their abilities and needs. So I will say No, Social justice or communism is not the same. 

            Looking at it from the perspective of Obama care you will say is socially fair, because with Obamacare healthcare is made affordable for even the low income earners. Insurance is free for elderly 65 years and above. Bearing in mind how life happens, some illness can change the life of a person within a moment, that person may become disable either due to diagnoses of terminal illness, motor vehicle accident, mental health disorder, stroke, at times the loss of the bread winner can affect the social standing of the family members. Instead of these group of people to go uninsured, then running to the emergency only during critical conditions with medical bills unattended to, the availability of Obamacare makes it socially fair, at least the low income, elderly, minor and disabled that cannot afford to buy insurance or cope with co-pay, can be enrolled in Obamacare or sliding scale to avoid seeking medical attention only from the emergency room. 

            The magic wand would heal some of the political personalities who are opposed to Obamacare, as well as the new government health laws, a fixed health care system would be an ideal working system, where everyone would receive care, medication, education and all possible given support to have healthy life without worrying about the cost of treatment or medication. It will be great to figure out a method for either the provider or the insurer to become the provider, allowing medical doctors to earn higher wages to pay off their student loan will also be fair to them, and the government to bargain with pharmaceutical firms or provides some funds to help reduce the price of medications. For the system to function properly you need to carry all classes’ of people along. 

DISCUSSION 2 

 According to the United Nations, Social Justice is the “fair and compassionate distribution of the fruits of economic growth” (TSDF, 2021).  Socialized Medicine is “a healthcare system in which the government owns and operates healthcare facilities and employs the healthcare professionals, thus also paying for all healthcare services” (IHC, 2021).  Communism is by definition “based on the goal of eliminating socioeconomic class struggles by creating a classless society in which everyone shares the benefits of labor and the state controls all property and wealth” (National Geographic, 2021).  I feel like there is a stair step down for each of these. Social justice is not necessarily run by the government of a country but more by the people in the country and is really set on the goal of striving for equal resources for all people (TSDF, 2021).  Then there is socialized medicine which is run by the government for the benefit of the people but there are going to be restrictions for all even though the health care will be equal for all (IHC, 2021). Communism has the goal of equally benefiting all people but the downfall with this is that some people may be working harder than others and pulling the weight of those who do not want to work as much (National Geographic, 2021).  Also, the government receives all the wealth and they distribute it supposedly fairly but this is not going to be guaranteed (National Geographic, 2021).   

Our health care system is not fair at all.  When I worked in the ICU I took care of a veteran who was caring for his grandson.  He was prescribed medications but could not afford them as he stated he could either feed his grandson or pay for his medications- his grandson won and he had a heart attack.  I was absolutely appalled.  A veteran who had served our country was now not able to afford his medications and now would have a huge hospital bill.  Our health care does speak about preventative medicine but when push comes to shove our medications are way overpriced unless they have been around for a long time.  Even then if you are at a poverty level and have a heart attack and are placed on Aspirin 81 mg daily, Plavix 75 mg daily, Metoprolol 25 mg bid, Lisinopril 5 mg daily, and Atorvastatin 80 mg daily and do not have insurance with good pharmaceutical coverage these medications may be too expensive.  According to the video this week for people who live in poverty have poor health outcomes as they cannot focus on their health as they are mostly worried about their basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing (Laureate, 2009).  This does not represent social justice at all.  

I do wish that I had a magical wand and could wave it on our health care system.  I would love to have a health care system where every person would be treated equally and would receive the same care.  I would love if there would be more public health care nurses available to help the community.  In the video I really enjoyed hearing about the work that was being done with pregnant teenagers and how the public health nurses would have a “relationship-centered” nurse and family partnership from the second trimester to the baby’s second birthday (Laureate, 2009).  Public nurses have been pivotal in helping the community and saving lives by bringing about change to the community in a way that is beneficial to all (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2020).  It would be absolutely magical if public health nurses were paid better and more abundant to help the vulnerable populations in our communities.  It truly reminds me of why I became a nurse in the first place, to help those who cannot at that time help themselves.