Personal Values and Beliefs and the Health Policy

Personal Values and Beliefs and the Health Policy
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Personal Values and Beliefs and the Health Policy
Introduction
As human beings, we are born free and are entitled to our own beliefs and values. Generally, beliefs are quantized through morals and ethics, and the measurement could vary depending on the perspective they are viewed from. We all have varying perspectives of viewing certain social, religious, moral or political issues subject to our upbringing and the society we grew up in. I view myself as of great spiritual beliefs and values, and I also highly respect the values and beliefs of others. With regards to healthcare, I believe that healthcare in the United States should be socially and spiritually bespoke for patients of various backgrounds. In this paper, I will discuss my personal values and beliefs using the elements of cost, quality, and social issues to differentiate my opinions and beliefs about healthcare policy.
As a healthcare professional, I have had firsthand experience with how personal beliefs and values influence people of various cultural and religious backgrounds to make certain health choices. Cultural and religious diversity are at a peak in the United States. Currently, most policies and laws in the US are created and implemented using the majority rule and may therefore not be respectful of some cultures and religions (Tetley et al., 2016). It is therefore imperative to tailor-make laws and policies, including the health policy, so they address and respect all religions and cultures.
Among the most sensitive and most discussed issues in healthcare, circles are abortion and birth control. There are American cultures that view abortion as a sin against God while some less conservative cultures see abortion as an individual’s choice and that the government has no right to make laws regarding their beliefs and values. For example, myself being a Muslim, my view on abortion is a very conservative one and is founded on Islamic values and beliefs. In Islam, women are allowed to use birth control measures, however, once pregnant; they are not allowed to terminate a pregnancy. This is evidenced in the Koran "And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong" (Usmani, 17:31). Exceptions are however made in unusual cases such as rape where the woman is allowed to use the morning after pill or use other means immediately after the sexual assault to ensure the fertilized ovum does not get implanted. Additionally, Sharia law also expands on the valid abortion cases for women whose doctors declare that continued pregnancy endangers the woman’s life. This also in line with the Islamic principle of choosing the lesser of two evils (al-ahamm wa 'l-muhimm).
As a child, I was too conservative and susceptible to topics touching on my religious and personal beliefs. However, having learned about other religions and cultures, I have improved on my tolerance and respect for others of different religions and cultures. My belief is that the complexities of religion, politics, and ethics have a huge influence on how different people perceive abortion and birth control. The m...