Discuss healthcare policies that focus on vulnerable or disadvantaged populations. For instance, a policy may be created that attempts to combat barriers to healthcare services for adults with developmental disabilities.
Include the following information in your initial post:
Do you think gearing policy toward disadvantaged populations is a wise or unsound practice? Explain your answer and support your position with scholarly resources.
What is the impact to the whole of society if disadvantaged or vulnerable populations are overlooked by policymakers?
If you were a policymaker, on what specific health-related issue (that impacts a vulnerable or disadvantaged group) would you focus? Why? Support your choice with appropriate resources.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Significance of Healthcare Policies for Vulnerable Populations
Healthcare policies that specifically target vulnerable or disadvantaged populations play a crucial role in promoting equity and addressing disparities in access to healthcare services. By focusing on groups such as adults with developmental disabilities, policymakers can address unique barriers and challenges faced by these populations, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and quality of life.
Is Gearing Policy towards Disadvantaged Populations Wise?
Gearing healthcare policy towards disadvantaged populations is not only a wise practice but a necessary one to achieve health equity. Research indicates that vulnerable populations, including individuals with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income individuals, often face significant barriers to accessing healthcare services. By implementing targeted policies, policymakers can address these disparities and ensure that all individuals have equal access to quality healthcare. Studies have shown that policies aimed at vulnerable populations can lead to improved health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs in the long run.
Impact of Overlooking Vulnerable Populations on Society
If policymakers overlook disadvantaged or vulnerable populations in healthcare policy development, the consequences can be far-reaching. Neglecting these populations can perpetuate health inequities, leading to poorer health outcomes, increased healthcare costs, and reduced overall well-being for society as a whole. Failure to address the specific needs of vulnerable populations can result in a widening gap between those who have access to quality care and those who do not, ultimately undermining the principles of social justice and equality.
Focus of Healthcare Policy as a Policymaker
If I were a policymaker, I would focus on improving mental health services for homeless populations. Homeless individuals are among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in society, often facing multiple health challenges, including mental health disorders. By addressing mental health issues among the homeless population, policymakers can not only improve individual well-being but also reduce healthcare costs associated with untreated mental illness and homelessness.
Supporting Resources:
1. The Health of Homeless People in High-Income Countries: Descriptive Epidemiology, Health Consequences, and Clinical and Policy Recommendations – Fazel et al. (2014)
2. Mental Health Care for Homeless People: A Systematic Review of the Use of Housing First Programs – Stergiopoulos et al. (2015)
3. Homelessness, Housing Insecurity, and Health: An Integrative Review for Nursing – Gelberg et al. (2017)
In conclusion, healthcare policies that target vulnerable populations are essential for promoting health equity and addressing disparities in access to care. By focusing on the unique needs of disadvantaged groups, policymakers can improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and contribute to a more equitable and just society. Prioritizing the health needs of vulnerable populations is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic investment in the well-being of society as a whole.
