CULTURAL BARRIERS TO HEALTH-CARE REFORM

The rare of proliferation of health care reform proposals makes it imp ossible to consider them all adequately; whatever plan is finally legi slated, there will be many who are not satisfied with it, and clamor f or change is likely to be a prominent feature of health care politics for a long time. This article takes a brief look at the health care re form process in the United States, including some of the impediments t o development of a plan that would address both contemporary and futur e issues. Some traditional ethical viewpoints and cultural values, hav ing to do with concepts of justice, are seen as inimical to long-range program development. The need for alteration of traditional views is regarded as urgent, to facilitate cultural movement in directions that will not only permit development of workable health care programs, bu t will extend broadly to address other compelling societal issues. The impetus for advantageous cultural movement originates among perceptiv e individuals who are regarded by society as legitimately influential. Many physicians still are accorded this sort of recognition, and the considered input of medical professionals is essential.