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HEALTH CARE SOCIAL STATMENTS - BRETHREN
Health Care Issues
http://www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/89HealthCare.htm
Our Judeo-Christian heritage has taught us that God's holy purpose includes everyone, that every person is of worth. As God's people, we are to be concerned for the health of all people, and to nurture health for one another. In the past, the church has accepted the responsibility of caring for others; today the church is called to a new level of involvement. As God's people on earth, the church is called to work for high quality, comprehensive health care for all.
We believe that, as tangible evidence of the covenantal nature of our Christian faith, all persons should receive adequate health care as a basic human right and as a reflection of personal dignity.
II. We believe that the responsibility for fulfilling this right must rest with both the individual and society, and that government as an instrument of society must assure it.
Therefore, we urge government bodies to promote a program that:
1. Is universal and comprehensive, providing all persons in the United States with access to all necessary health care services.
2. Promotes good health, recognizing that promoting health and preventing illness are more appropriate and less costly than treating illness at advanced stages.
3. Establishes national standards for delivering health services and assessing medical technology, yet permits local boards of expert and community representatives to participate in determining which services and technology are needed and how they should be delivered.
4. Assures the rights of all citizens to choose freely among health care providers and facilities for delivering health care.
5. Assures the rights of health care providers and facilities to deliver care with a minimum of government control and regulation, while keeping malpractice insurance rates at a reasonable level.
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