The concept of “individual responsibility” is a harsh one when it comes to health. As we discussed last class–and as the text confirms–there is a fundamental link between the social world and public health, and it is not always possible for someone to stay healthy, no matter how hard they try. If a person works in a nuclear power plant, they have a greater chance of acquiring cancer from the radiation exposure; if a person lives near a large swamp, they are more likely to contract diseases carried by insects, such as West Nile Virus; if a person does not make enough money to afford health insurance or basic medical care, they are more likely to go untreated or undiagnosed. In general, it is entirely plausible for the wealthy to avoid circumstances like these altogether, and thus, increase their lifespan and overall health. Obviously wealth does not guarantee good health, but it greatly increases the chance of it. It is rather astonishing to me that issues like these have been in talks for decades and we have not progressed past the point we are at now. Wealthy corporations and wealthy people still hold a great deal of power–perhaps more than ever in recent history–and medical professionals can now be bought out by pharmaceutical companies via kickbacks and other perks. When will the link between socioeconomic status and public health click well enough to kick-start proper health reform? Is it possible for well-informed, well-meaning people, such as the CSDH, to convince enough power-wielders that this is the right route to take?
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