Women and Health - Assignment Example

Women and Health Abstract As fast paced as the changes happening with technology, health is an aspect in a person’s life that is most of the time neglected. In this paper, there would be reflections and statements that may or may not be considered traditional but as a taboo by others. Women need to take care of their health more compared to men. This is not because they are more fragile than men but because they would be carrying another human being in their womb at least once in their lifetime. With the latter statement, it just shows how important the role of their health throughout their lifetime. However, maybe due to the fact that they often compete with the opposite sex to be treated as equal, women of recent generations have neglected their well-being. Changed lifestyle has contributed a number of ailments to women that could affect their health during their child bearing years. There are prenatal screenings being offered to pregnant women to ensure the health and well-being of the child they are carrying. Also, couples are being offered screenings to know their so-called genetic compatibility or incompatibility to know the ratio of having a healthy and normal child. There would be instances that screenings would be disregarded by parents at some point and say that they would accept their child in whatever health condition they might be in whether at birth or at the course of their lives. What parents or future parents should consider is that, if they would not undergo screenings and their child would be suffering from a certain ailment, they as parents are disregarding the right of a child to grow up with a healthy body and be accepted in the society. One should accept that though as advanced and liberal the society might be there are still instances that physically and/or mentally challenged children suffer from discrimination almost their whole lifetime (South-Paul, et al., 2004; Karpin & Savell, 2012). Another hindrance that might occur for prenatal screenings would be culture. There are aspects in the beliefs of ethnic groups and population where pregnancy or the child that is still in the womb is considered as sacred or should not be disturbed. This is an aspect which can be the topic of debates for years and decades however would still end up into nothingness. However, this should not be the case. There should be scholars from the medical field to address or enlighten these ethnic groups. Prenatal and even newborn screenings are not done to step on their traditions and cultures; these are done to ensure the future and well-being of the next generations and the generations to come after them. It is not a time to be close-minded about medical breakthroughs. This is not for the present generation; this is for the future of mankind and the hope of having every child deserves to have a healthy and normal life (Fisher, 1996). Every child has a right to be healthy. From day 1 of their conception, it should be ensured that the unborn child’s health is prioritized. Women should be aware of their body and not just their environment. They play a very vital role in the society as they are the ones who would carry the future generation of mankind. Lifestyle and habits of women could be the culprit as to why numerous health conditions happen even to unborn children. Prevention is always the best cure. One way to do know that a child is healthy, prenatal screenings should be made mandatory to pregnant women. After birth, it should also be mandatory that newborn babies should undergo newborn screening. On the other hand, there are people who are neglecting their health as a result of their current situation in the justice system. These are the people who are currently residing at correctional facilities. This is a situation where one seemed to have given up his rights one way or another. However, though in a state of captivity, a person still needs to take care of one’s self as this is often the only thing they have. Others may have given up their freedom and identity for their families to live a normal life and not be discriminated. Healthcare in correctional facilities are often the last priority not just by the correction system but also of the governing bodies. Others might be appalled by how healthcare is being delivered at these facilities while others might think that it is just okay since these people have violated the law. Even with the latter statement presented, these people are still human beings and one should care for another regardless of the state they are in. A human being is responsible for another as they are brothers. This is not the case every single time. One might think that why would one be saved from dying due to an ailment when one time or more in the life they have killed an innocent person. This is true and brings out a number of dilemmas for healthcare workers. One would weigh the pros and cons over and over and might still face a brick wall as to reaching a conclusion. However, healthcare workers have pledged to carry out healthcare services as their duties and responsibilities. This is regardless of who is in need of the service and this should be the priority of each and every one in the medical field. Inmates may not have any freedom but they still have their legal and ethical rights as human beings and they could use this when they seem that things are not going their way especially in the medical field. It is unfortunate that some may overlook into these rights just because of the fact that these people have been sentenced by the justice system to imprisonment (Braswell, et al, 2010; Pollock, 2010). The word professional is the operative word. One should be professional enough to carry out healthcare services to these inmates. Even if it is not deemed right by the whole population, health workers have sworn to deliver their duties and responsibilities without any if’s and regardless of who needs their aid. References Braswell, M. C., McCarthy, B. R. & McCarthy, B. J. (2012). Justice, Crime, and Ethics. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. Fisher, N. (1996). Cultural and Ethnic Diversity: A Guide for Genetics Professionals. Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins University Press. Karpin, I. & Savell, K. (2012). Perfecting Pregnancy: Law, Disability, and the Future of Reproduction. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Pollock, J. (2010). Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. South-Paul, J. E., Lewis, E. L. & Matheny, S. C. (2011). Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Family Medicine. USA: McGraw-Hill Companies. Williams, V. L. (1996). Dictionary of American Penology. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Read More