Socialized Medicine

Introduction to Socialized Medicine

Socialized Medicine, public system of national health care. An example of socialized medicine is the medical service provided to the British people by the National Health Service Act of 1948. Doctors are paid salaries by the government with an additional payment per patient. Everyone is entitled to free medical care under the plan, which is funded by the national treasury and a health-insurance tax. Most European nations have some type of socialized medicine that generally provides physician’s care, hospital treatment, maternity benefits, and partial cost of medicines. In the former Soviet-bloc nations fairly complete medical services are financed by the government. The Canadian Medical Care Act of 1966 provides comprehensive medical coverage to all residents.

The United States has not made extensive use of socialized medicine, although Medicare and Medicaid cover a significant part of the population. In 1993 President Bill Clinton presented a plan for universal health insurance to the Congress of the United States. The plan was attacked fiercely for being too expensive, requiring excessive government regulation, placing too great a burden on small employers, and reducing the quality of care. Although various other health proposals were drafted by Congressional groups, Congress could not reach agreement on the health care issue, and the plan never came to a vote.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

1. Information about Socialized Medicine in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

See Also

• Health Insurance
• Medicare (in the United States)
• Medicaid (in the United States)
• National Health Insurance (in the United States)
• International human rights law
• International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
• World Health Organization

Further Reading

• W. Andrew Achenbaum (1994). Why U.S. Health Care Reform Is So Difficult. Hastings Center Report 24 (5):23-24.
• Gwen Adshead (2015). The Community of the Excluded: Mental Health and Confidentiality in Prisons. Journal of Medical Ethics 41 (6):501-502.
• Ching Ping Ang, Joseph Wolpin & Elisha Baron (2009). Recent Developments in Health Law. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 37 (1):149-159.
• George J. Annas (1978). Where Are the Health Lawyers When We Need Them? Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 6 (2):3-3.
• Jonny Anomaly (forthcoming). Ethics, Antibiotics, and Public Policy. Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy.
• Jonny Anomaly (2013). Collective Action and Individual Choice: Rethinking How We Regulate Narcotics and Antibiotics. Journal of Medical Ethics 39 (4):752-756.
• Leanne Bell (2012). Medical Law and Ethics. Pearson.
• Josue N. Bellosillo (ed.) (2010). Basics of Philippine Medical Jurisprudence and Ethics. Central Book Supply.
• Eric Benson, Brendan Hickey & Katherine Wong (2007). Recent Developments in Health Law. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 35 (2):329-339.
• Jessamyn S. Berniker (2000). Legal Implications of Discrimination in Medical Practice. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 28 (1):85-87.
• Suzanne Bouclin, Abortion in Post-X Ireland.
• Margaret Brazier & Mary Lobjoit (eds.) (1991). Protecting the Vulnerable: Autonomy and Consent in Health Care. Routledge.
• Jan M. Broekman (1996). Intertwinements of Law and Medicine. Leuven University Press.
• Chester R. Burns (ed.) (1977). Legacies in Law and Medicine. Science History Publications.
• A. M. Capron (1990). Reflections on Health Law and Ethics. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 18 (1-2):15-19.
• Alexander Morgan Capron (2004). Bernard Dickens: Bespoke Public Health, Law and Ethics. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 32 (4):549-550.
• Carlos Romeo Casabona (2010). Pt. 5. Patients Rights. Patients’ Rights and Human Dignity. In André den Exter (ed.), Human Rights and Biomedicine. Maklu
• Peter J. Cohen (2010). Medical Marijuana 2010: It’s Time to Fix the Regulatory Vacuum. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 38 (3):654-666.
• Edgar Dahl (2007). Sex Selection: Morality, Harm, and the Law. Southern Medical Journal 100 (1):105-106.
• Edgar Dahl (2006). Preconception Sex Selection: Demand and Preferences in the United States. Fertility and Sterility 85 (2):468-473.
• Edgar Dahl (2003). Preconception Sex Selection for Non‐Medical Reasons: A Representative Survey From the UK. Human Reproduction 18 (10):2238-2239.
• Jan Deckers (2010). The Right to Life and Abortion Legislation in England and Wales: A Proposal for Change. Diametros 26:1-22.
• André den Exter (ed.) (2010). Human Rights and Biomedicine. Maklu.
• André den Exter (2010). Introduction: The Biomedicine Convention. In Human Rights and Biomedicine. Maklu
• Bernard M. Dickens (ed.) (1993). Medicine and the Law. New York University Press.
• Elmar Doppelfeld (2010). Pt. 3. Medical Research. Appropriate Regulations for Different Types of Medical Research. In André den Exter (ed.), Human Rights and Biomedicine. Maklu
• Jocelyn Downie, Carolyn McLeod & Jacquelyn Shaw (2013). Moving Forward with a Clear Conscience: A Model Conscientious Objection Policy for Canadian Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. Health Law Review 21 (3):28-32.
• William S. Duffey (2004). Public Health and Law Enforcement: Intersecting Interests, Collegiality and Cooperation. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 32 (s4):19-22.
• Pierre Forcier (2006). Traité d’Expertise Médico-Légale. Éditions Y. Blais.
• Michael Freeman (2008). Law and Bioethics : Constructing the Inter-Discipline. In Michael D. A. Freeman (ed.), Law and Bioethics / Edited by Michael Freeman. Oxford University Press
• Michael Freeman (2008). Law, Human Rights, and the Bioethical Discourse. In Michael D. A. Freeman (ed.), Law and Bioethics / Edited by Michael Freeman. Oxford University Press