Ethical Considerations for Policy Action

Following an in-depth review of the information provided by Longest about the ethical principles that serve as a guide for those involved in policymaking write a 1 page critical review (1 page per selection) to the below two selections. Share any experiences that you may have had that would substantiate their discussion points. If you disagree with their selection, be sure to substantiate why and what would be a more dominant principle for their selected policy issue.  Substantiate your review with ample policy specific information, obtained from a sound academic resource (at least 2 per selection) that would demonstrate how this principle is the main ethical underpinning that guides policy makers in this arena.  Selection 1: DASH, Autonomy   One dominant ethical principle that appears to underline a consideration of my selected policy issue, The Division of Adolescent and School Health would be Autonomy. Respect for persons as autonomous beings can sometimes be better understood in contrast to its opposite: paternalism. Paternalism implies that someone else determines what is best for people (Longest, 2016).         The mission of the CDCs Division of Adolescent and School Health policy ( DASH), is to prevent HIV, other STDs, teen pregnancy and promote lifelong health among youth through education programs (CDC.GOV).  The information provided in the strategic layout of the DASH policy needs to be implemented properly to all youth intended by the program , to insure our youth have the correct information to make the best decisions for themselves and their bodies.       Respect for individuals and their own beliefs pertains to autonomy and specifically relates to how individuals choose to live their lives and the rights regarding the integrity of their bodies and minds               ( Longest, 2016). In medial decision making the ethical principle of autonomy, or right of self- determination must be respected. Physicians, healthcare providers and educators must adequately deliver information to  their patients and individuals correctly to ensure that they can make autonomous decisions (Wancata, Hinshaw, 2016).      The DASH policy informs youth about how to prevent unintended pregnancies with abstinence, condoms and other protective measures. By providing this information and having discussions, the DASH policy is education our youth with appropriate information that will feed the minds of our youth to guide them to making the best decisions for themselves and others around them whom they choose to inform. I believe this is a direct connection to autonomy. Providing information to individuals and in return they will decide if they will use the information or not, that will be their own decision.  Selection 2: Beneficence and the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) The Child Health Insurance Program serves to provide health insurance from children of low-income families who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid (Child Health Insurance Program, n.d.).  Some states offer coverage for pregnant women as well.  This program offers comprehensive coverage in every state.  While the costs in each state vary, the CHIP program maintains that the cost will not exceed 5% of a family’s yearly income, making the bottom line very affordable for low-income families.  Routine visits and dental care are 100% covered under CHIP.  This program determines eligibility through income, but most states cover children up to 200% of the federal poverty level (State Children’s Health Insurance Program, n.d.).  The point of this is to cover as many children as possible that would otherwise go without health insurance.               While a few ethical principles apply to the CHIP program, I feel that the dominant ethical principle is beneficence.  “Beneficence in policymaking means that participants in the process act with charity and kindness; that is, they overtly seek to do good.” (Longest, 2016, p. 296).  The beneficence principle maintains that we should do all we can to help those who need it most.  All actions under this principle should be done for the good of the recipient.  The CHIP policy provides substantial benefits to its users, a key piece to the beneficence principle in policymaking.  CHIP promotes health and wellness to all participants of its program.   As health care costs continue to skyrocket, the government dutifully intervenes by funding CHIP to provide insurance for those who otherwise could not afford it.  By serving to bridge the gap in the lives of millions of needy childrens’ welfare, CHIP provides a distinct example of a beneficent policy.  Public health policies, like CHIP, are usually put into place for the benefit of the welfare of others (Phua, 2013).  Allocative policies in general fall under this category, such as Medicare and Medicaid policies as well (Longest, 2016).  CHIP, an offshoot of Medicaid, falls directly in this category.  The CHIP policy, by nature, demonstrates a clear concern for the well-being of underprivileged children by supplementing government funding to pay for their healthcare.                Most (if not all) public health insurance programs serve to help people in financial need.  CHIP certainly falls under this category.  The CHIP program clearly demonstrates the ethical principle of beneficence, as it plays an integral role in its policy execution. Course textbook #1: Course Book access via redshelf: A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving ***(Appendix A, B and D)*** https://esc.redshelf.com/library/ un: [email protected] pw: iLOVEMICAELA83!! Course textbook # 2: Course Book access via kindle: Health Policy Making in the US **(Chapter 10)** https://read.amazon.com/ un:[email protected] pw: iLOVEME83!!