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Introduction

Bioethical issue is defined as "the philosophical approach and study of the ethical controversies that are brought by the evolution and progression in medicine and biology” (Macer, et al. 2019). . There are a lot of bioethical issues that are present in the current time. The type of care delivery and the healthcare system refers to the society that is healthy with an equal approach of health facilities to everyone who is living in society. The bioethical issue discussed in the paper is, “the lack of access to healthcare in African American women due to poverty”.

Bioethical issue

It is highlighted that the African American women in the United States has always been a victim of different types of discrimination. One of the types of discrimination of the disparity in terms of the provision of the health resources that can keep this set of the population healthy (Macer, et al. 2019). The context of more compact and a narrowed down study highlighted that the provision of equal health opportunities is also one of the bioethical issues when studied in the context of the marginalized population such as African American families. It is highlighted that the “Take Force” defines health disparities as an excess of mortality of the minority groups as compared to the white population. According to the data collected from the National Institute of Health, disparities are defined in terms of difference in the prevalence, burden of disease, mortality and the incidence of disease. The information from the Centre of Disease Control asserts that African Americans are found to have a higher rate of deaths as compared to the White population due to health concerns such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, cirrhosis, AIDS and homicide. White women have a ratio of patients of breast cancer but the ratio of deaths is far more in the black women, highlighting a single cause “poverty” (Macer, et al. 2019).

Marginalized group

African American women are the marginalized group, taking into account they suffer from social exclusion. Whenever marginalized is exemplified, African American women are one of the most quoted examples. African American women are marginalized in terms of all spectrums of life ranging from options of employment and the areas of improvement and self-growth (Noll, et al 2019).

The history of marginalization can be traced back to slavery and the “sold population” ideology associated with Africans. It is highlighted that Africans either immigrants or America born African are termed or treated as marginalized because of the dark history of slavery that is associated with women. Also, the color of African women is one of the sound justification that is given for their marginalization. Many of the racist people, consider their appearance as well as their dark past as a root of degraded and lowered life status because they consider rich cultural and identify history as the precursor of a respectable place in the society. Although this ideology is now general old, still African American women are still counted as marginalized women. Women are not treated alike, they are no allowed to take part in the fields of life, by associating different futile and meaningless associations such as their curled hair and dark complexion. Also, women are to allow to study, they are not given jobs and also, they are not provided by the healthcare necessities required by them. Also, women are marginalized in the form of different movements and activism that assert that Africans are equal to savages, they are dark shadows who are made to be slaves and surrender. In terms of access to healthcare, poverty is the main reason and poverty prevails because women are not allowed to develop and grow, they are not allowed to take part in the activities of life. If there are some volunteer women, they are suppressed but the overwhelming impression of bullying, racism, and personal hatred so they are unable to get in touch with basic life necessities such as health (Noll, et al 2019).

Resource Allocation Issue

Resource allocation is defined as the assignment of the available resources as required and as desired. In the context of a marginalized population, resource allocation is the major gap or issue because it is something that has made the population marginalized. In the context of African America women, they are pushed to live the life of poverty, because education is one of the major requirement for jobs and when these women as girls are not allowed to get education and continue studies, they don’t study and hence they have no option of employment. If the case of their living standards is addressed, then racism is void of any gender, the same happened with men. If some of them have got the required education, such population is not given equal resources to work because of the lack of diverse approach in the organization. Also, in case of public health resources, people either live in far off place, either medical treatments are too expensive or they have to travel a lot of distance to reach the healthcare Centre. There is no healthcare platform with strict requirements of positive treatment for the African American population. There is no specific healthcare company driven by a government that can educate to cater to the needs of the marginalized population (Fletcher, et al.2019).

Ethical principles

Ethical principles serve as the code of conduct used to incorporate security and define the reformation that is needed. Following are the major ethical principles that are associated with the bioethical issues

Non-discrimination

Nondiscrimination is an ethical principle that is applied to the selected population because discrimination is one of the major reasons that the women are left behind in the walk of life, where health is an important department. It is important to note that the stance of non-discrimination is a multi-dimensional aspect. It is asserted that firstly, women are not given any kind of awareness that can add to the conscious or preservative measures of health. Then, women are not allowed to get in touch with the available healthcare opportunities and the resources of health. Also, there are a lot of cases in which bullying and being physical is a dilemma that keeps women away from the population who has access to all the health care resources and opportunities (Fletcher, et al.2019).

Respect for Human dignity and social justice

Human dignity and social justice is another major aspect to consider because African American women are doomed to become a victim of the stereotype population who is not given approach to healthcare resources. Humiliation is one of the major points to be discussed because there are hundreds and thousands of cases in which African American women are humiliated as the population who suffers from HIV and AIDS (Noll, et al 2019). Also, it is highlighted that African Americans are always given the option of abortion with the ideology that they don’t have the economic resources and the capabilities to bore a child. Also, force medication and forced testing is also something that is very common in African American which needs to be considered.

Social justice is a part of that humiliation because it is the response that is expected from the African American women but it is never supported or given. Also, it is important to note that most, African American women are not allowed to seek and they are not given the resources that can help them live in the city areas with good health options and opportunities. It is asserted that African American women are not given the opportunity to live in a society in which they can learn and groom. Also, women are pushed to live in the suburbs as well as the backward areas that have rare healthcare opportunities fact it is forced decisions. It is also highlighted that the women are always considered secondary to the White Women and it asserts the significance of the lack of social justice because when a specific group is not given the option to come up to the social standards, they have to stay back and side in which they have. Also, there are some communities particular of the African America money and it is the lack of social justice and it is the form of sheer injustice that contributes to poverty as well as lack of health resources (Noll, et al 2019).

Transparency

Transparency refers to the measure of check and balance that is used to maintain the social spectrum and let the other members of the society become a prominent part of society. It is more like a dilemma because Africa American women are completely excluded from the set proportion of people who are living in the society. There are no rules, regulations, and policies that can check if the women are given the economic resources. There are no departments that are designed to ensure that African American women are given the economic and social resources that can either support them economically or incorporated social justice along with an equal approach to health (Fletcher, et al.2019)

All these principles not only reflect the basic loopholes but also invites attention to the major cause of the fall of the chosen population and the reason who they are pushed to the backstage of society and life and termed marginalized.

Medical Research issues

There are several medical research issues that are associated with this marginalized group. It is highlighted that African American women suffer from a lot of diseases ranging from cancer to HIV. In many cases, the disease is the product of delayed treatment and the lack of adequate treatment that could have cured the disease in the beginning. It is also important to note that there are significant issues that arise due to the problem in the health system that is proposed to them for treatment. This statement refers to the lack of an updated and homogenous system that can help the population to get in touch with positive and adequate health services at a low cost. The major concern is poverty and availability of health resources on minor finances could have done major well to this marginalized population (Cheema, et al.2019).

End of life issues

There are different end of life issues that are associated with the selected issues. One of these issues is chronic emotional fatigue. It would be better if this issue is called the central issue became the African American population always suffer from the emotional fatigue that is driven from discrimination. Here, it is highlighted that chronic emotional fatigue is a major issue because the population already feels deprived and ignored. Guilt is another end of life issues because such women suffer from the guilt of not living a healthy life that can support their children and families as well as the guilt of leaving family at the edge of destruction in the hands of society and the system that is driven by discrimination. Anxiety and grief over unexpected and increasing finical burdens is also major issues because when they don’t have enough money that could help with the life resources, then getting benefitted from the expensive healthcare is nothing more than a burden. It is observed that this population already lives in the burdens of responsibilities that are not evenly fulfilled so, anxiety is evident that automatically adds to their illness and the issue that they are facing. Stress in relationships are another major issue. It is evident that the African American women only have their families as someone who can bear and then overcome the burden that the families are facing. Women being the central character of driving the family express their stress on their children and husband which automatically cast an effect on the relationship as well as the mental state of the children. Confusion in dealing with complex issues is also one of the major element to treat and address because financial disparities and poverty is something that is worst of all the issues that someone can face. Today, there is a lot of things that can be bought with money, as few of the resource of happiness. So, this lack of stability and inability to address situation hampers the ability of the patient to address her family with positivity, in fact, it affects the health of the individual (Cheema, et al.2019).

Individual right Vs. Greater good to specific to the issue

It is highlighted that access to health is one of the basic and national rights of all the people who are living in the country and the same scenario goes with African American women. Also the issues of “lack of access to health care because of poverty” is not individual but it’s a general issue that is common in all the marginalized groups’ especially African American women. (Fletcher, et al.2019). Here, the issues with individual are the complex though procedure, stereotypes, biases and personal hatred that if resolved can play a central role in promoting general good. The issues that are the chunks of fear that need to be addressed for the health and welfare society.

Role of scientific innovation

A central role can be played by scientific innovation and technology taking into account telehealth and the resources that can be used to educate and treat people. Also, if it is about free health, there are a lot of public service campaigns started off and on, they can be used and even concentrate on the marginalized population to address the health need. Also, social media and other electronic resources can also be used to address health issues in the form of symptoms, care and the online health that are being conveyed to the African American Women while staying at home and free of cost. All these resources will not only help the patient to recover at low cost but it will be one of the effective sources of education because treatment is required after the occurrence of disease which can be addressed by innovation and technological involvement(Cheema, et al.2019).

Summary

In this paper, a marginalized group "African American Women” is selected who is facing an issue “lack of access to care due to poverty”, in the form of bioethical issues. After that, there is a brief account of the allocation of resources due to which these issues occur. Also, there is a critical approach to the ethical principles that are common and observed in this issue. There are some medical health issues as well such as attitude behavior and psychological issues that are common and adhered to the current issues. Also, there are some “end of life care” issues that are common to this population, taking into account the inverse impact these issues can have on them. This paper has also summarized some individual rights issues that are again behavioral and psychological which when resolved can promote social good. In the end, this paper reflects the positive role that can be played by scientific innovations to resolve this issue.

References

Cheema, A. W., Meagher, K. M., & Sharp, R. R. (2019). Multiple Marginalizations: What Bioethics Can Learn From Black Feminism.

Fletcher, F. E., Rice, W. S., Ingram, L. A., & Fisher, C. B. (2019). Ethical Challenges and Lessons Learned from Qualitative Research with Low-Income African American Women Living with HIV in the South. Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 30(5), 116-129.

Noll, S. E., & Hubbard-Mattix, L. N. (2019). Health Justice in the City: Why an Intersectional Analysis of Transportation Matters for Bioethics. Essays in Philosophy, 20(2), 2.

Macer, D. R. (2019). Is There Cross-Cultural Evidence for an Association Between Intersectionality and Bioethical Decision Making? Not Yet, but Awaiting Advances in Mental Mapping. The American Journal of Bioethics, 19(2), 34-36.