Imagine a world in which medicine was oriented toward healing rather than disease, where doctors believed in the natural healing capacity of human beings and emphasized prevention above treatment. In such a world, doctors and patients would be partners working toward the same ends.
To be without health insurance in this country means to be without access to medical care. But health is not a luxury, nor should it be the sole possession of a privileged few. We are all created b'tzelem elohim - in the image of God - and this makes each human life as precious as the next. By 'pricing out' a portion of this country's population from health care coverage, we mock the image of God and destroy the vessels of God's work.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Access to healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege, reflecting the inherent value of all human life.
This quote emphasizes the importance of universal access to healthcare, arguing that being without health insurance leads to a lack of medical care that should be available to everyone. It challenges the notion that health is a luxury reserved for the privileged and supports the idea that all human lives are equally valuable, as we are all made in the image of God. Denying healthcare access undermines this principle and harms society as a whole.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about healthcare reform, one might say, 'As Alexander Schindler pointed out, to be without health insurance in this country means to be without access to medical care.'
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