Blog Post 5

 I listened to an episode of This I Believe, specifically "Health Care is a Human Right." Dr. Paul Farmer, who passed away last week in Rwanda whilst working in medical education in Butaro, discussed how as a doctor he believes every single person should be guaranteed health care. He explains how he has firsthand seen people all over the world die of diseases and injuries that were easily treatable or could have been prevented altogether. Farmer says a world in which every person gets the medical treatment they need is "utopian," but that we are currently living in vastly a dystopian one. He also states that "failure because ill health, as we learned again and again, is more often than not a symptom of poverty and violence and inequality - and we do little to fight those when we provide just vaccines, or only treatment for one disease or another." 

I liked this episode in particular as I personally agree with and support the idea of universal healthcare. I agree with Farmer that people should have access to health services and treatments they need without having to worry about financial hardships or income stability. Farmers firsthand experience as a doctor and medical professional in areas of the world where it is so low income that people are left to die because they cant afford simple antibiotics especially affirmed this. I also think that Farmer being an expert in his field may lead other listeners to the belief that people should receive necessary care in all circumstances, regardless of how much or how little money they make. Farmer even says "I know it's not enough to attend only to the immediate needs of the patient in front of me. We must also call attention to the failures and inadequacy of our own best efforts."