The Right to be Cared For

       “The US Healthcare system is broken”- a phrase I have heard often that sparks a lot of debate, anger, even sadness within people, which is perfectly understandable. And the common reasons people give to back up the claim that our healthcare system is broken stems from high costs, worker shortage, the involvement of government in healthcare etc. However, I believe there are 2 sides to this coin. The US Healthcare System has improved the lives of many on various accounts including: Maternal and infant health, cancer reach and prevention, public awareness of diseases, vaccines, and the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important to preface that US Healthcare isn’t something that should be taken for granted or a topic that should be discussed for the sole purpose of highlighting its current faults and shortcomings because when you look at the whole picture, it has done a lot of good. 

When problems related to the current US Healthcare System are mentioned some of the most common ones are high costs, which is true. According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics: “In 2019, current (nominal dollars) spending for national health expenditures was $3,795 billion. Total national health expenditures (constant dollars) were 30% higher in 2019 ($3,453 billion) than in 2009 ($2,658 billion).” and unfortunately it has continued to increase since then now “. . .in 2024, reaching $5.3 trillion or $15,474 per person.  As a share of the nation's Gross Domestic Product, health spending accounted for 18.0 percent (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). This is concerning, not just the numbers but the implications behind them. As it stands, some simply cannot afford US Healthcare and if the costs continue to increase then people may not get treated for dangerous illnesses and diseases when it could be fatal. 

I believe the cost of the US Healthcare system is the problem that is the most talked about among people mainly because of its relevance. However, I believe its attention has also stemmed from people’s absorption of themselves (in certain situations) with all honesty.  

There are more overlooked and niche problems that are often not addressed including burnout among healthcare workers and caregivers, insufficient funding of medical research, health data privacy and security, and lastly medical errors. 

In my opinion the medical errors present in the US Healthcare System is a problem that is not talked about nearly enough. Errors in administration of medication and vaccines, diagnosis, preventative care, and surgery can be fatal in some cases. It is important to preface that people in every occupation have made mistakes. Which is perfectly understandable, we’re human. AI makes mistakes and its not even human. Well, can AI make mistakes if it's not human lol . . . regardless everyone has their shortcomings. However, because healthcare specifically deals with the safekeeping and attentivity to the lives of humans, when errors do occur, they matter significantly.  

Primum non nocere, Latin for the foundational principle common in medical ethics that should be a phrase of second nature to all medical professionals meaning, “First, do no harm.” However, according to the WHO(World Health Organization), “Around 1 in every 10 patients is harmed in health care and more than 3 million deaths occur annually due to unsafe care. In low-to-middle income countries, as many as 4 in 100 people die from unsafe care”. A shocking statistic. Of course, US Healthcare alone is not responsible for this, seeing as this is an overall statistic involving healthcare around the world, not just in the states but this is nonetheless just as important. 

The last problem I wish to discuss has to do with the distribution of healthcare services and resources in the US. Unfortunately, it is often the case that certain specialists, or just hospitals in general, are concentrated in urban areas whilst far less services exist in more rural and unpopulated areas.  

This makes sense. Obviously, urban areas have more people. More people to treat requires more services to be present. However, if certain urban areas have overstaffed healthcare professionals working in the field, the reality is that their services are being underused and may prove to be more significant when put to use in a rural area. 

Overall, I believe there is much work to be done and many problems to be solved when it comes to US Healthcare. Although, I believe the discussion of these problems to be useless if solutions are not discussed alongside it.  

The high costs of the US Healthcare system may be mitigated by adopting certain strategies from other countries to reform the system in a way that reduces the overall cost of hospital visits and treatment.  

I believe many medical errors prevalent in our current healthcare system can be reduced by simply encouraging a second opinion among doctors and caregivers(more so than already established). 

Lastly, I believe that more rural and low-income areas can receive more care if hospitals with overstaffed doctors and nurses were to be sent to these areas and provide care for them where they are at. 

The US Healthcare System has a long way to go. Regardless, they have also improved the lives of so many and have made such a positive impact on this nation despite its many faults. I believe every human has the right to be cared for and I have deep respect and gratitude for those who have decided to dedicate their professional careers in pursuit of that, not just in America but all over the world.

 

“I pledge my honor that I have abided by the Stevens Honor Society.”  

Works Cited  

“Health Care Expenditures - Health, United States.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 Aug. 2024, www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/topics/health-care-expenditures.htm.  

“Historical.” CMS.Gov, www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/national-health-expenditure-data/historical.  Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.   

“Patient Safety.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/patient-safety.  Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.