Class #18: Health Care and the Radical Model
Discussion Questions for Oct 28, 2009
Related Readings: Waitzkin, "Technology, Health Costs, and the Structure of Private Profit", Mahar, "Preface"

 

These writing assignments are meant to help you think about the readings and to prepare you for class discussions. For that reason, when you write a response it is important that you give your opinions and that you relate your thoughts to the reading. Remember that these are exam questions and that they are graded as such. You ought to write them as though you are writing questions on a midterm or a final exam.

Respond to one of the following questions by writing a response on the class Discussion Board on Blackboard at least one hour before class on the date the question is listed. Put your name in the text of the question and give the question number as listed below. Without these I can't tell who wrote the question or what you are responding to. You then have until Midnight on the following Sunday of that week to revise your response if you wish to do so and to submit it for grading. To submit your responses, send them via email to milofsky@bucknell.edu.

Your final version of this question is due by midnight, Sunday, November 1.

18-1. What evidence does Waitzkin provide to support his argument that cardiac intensive care units illustrate the radical model of human services?

18-2. Hunter and Milofsky argue that the different ideological models each do particularly good job of explaining the facts in certain real world cases. Why is the radical model better at explaining the way health care is organized than the liberal model might be?

18-3. How does Mahar's overview of health care in the U.S. fit with the radical model of health and human services?

18-4 A central presumption of the radical model is that human services do not exist to do what they say they do. Is this a fair claim to make with respect to the health care examples given in today's readings?

18-5 Mahar gives an overview of the problems with health care in the United States that suggest change is essential. What are those arguments for change? How would conservatives relate to her concerns?