The Moral and Ethical Imperatives to Achieve Health Equity

Abstract

As partisan politics becomes more and more entrenched in our society and continue to creep into the policy decisions that impact the everyday lives of individuals, the fight for health equity is becoming an increasingly moral one. This lecture evaluates the three main arguments for advancing health equity for all: the national security argument, the economic argument, and the moral argument. It will underscore the notion that while all three should have a place in societal discourse, it is the moral argument that should strike the most compelling chord. Key to this analysis is recognition of the alarming statistics that highlight the health disparities that many minority groups face in spite of the numerous resources that we have to offer as a country. This lecture concludes with a call to action, to champion the advancement of health equity, that should be heeded by all leaders and concerned citizens, as there are not only the moral and ethical imperatives compelling such, but also because it is inherently the American thing to do.