MPH503, Infertility and Public Health, Mod 3 Case Assignment - Essay Example

MPH503 Mod 3 Case Assignment Infertility and Public Health The Case of Bragdon v. Abbot Bragdon v Abbot The inability to add a baby to the family isa devastating diagnosis to many would be parents, so much so that it affects everything else they do in life, including work. Reed, Horn, and Reed (2001) tell us that this incidence has increased as mothers are older and starting families start at a later age. There are many causes for infertility and there are many ways to assure that a baby is born.

The effort of having a baby under those circumstances, however, is not only costly but time consuming. That leaves the question of whether or not there should be allowed time off from work for procedures and should those procedures be paid for by the insurance company? This paper will attempt to answer those questions in relation to the results of the Bragdon v Abbot case. According to Bragdon v Abbot there is a right to reproduce, similar to the right to breathe. The case is saying that reproduction is a major life function just like any other bodily function and a disability related to reproduction is as important as a disability related to asthma (Walker , 2010).

Further, the Code of Federal Regulations according to Walker (2001) states that "any physiological disorder, or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: Neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genital-urinary, hemi and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine." As is noted, reproductive is listed. There is a lot of disagreement at the moment as to whether or not infertility is a disability, in fact, it appears that all of the states supreme courts cannot seem to agree.

However, in this particular case, it was determined to be a disability and unless another case comes along and determines the results of this one to be incorrect, it will be considered by insurance companies and employers to be so. Certainly insurance companies must respond by assuring that insurance cover infertility treatment. This writer does not believe this will last long. There will be another supreme court case to come along. It is not that this writer disagrees but certainly at the cost of such treatments insurance companies will either need to raise cost or find a way not to cover the treatment.

It is thought that certainly most states will go for the attempt to get insurance companies to pay for infertility treatment, with the exception, possibly of self-insured cases. In some ways, mandating insurance to pay for infertility treatment makes the disparity of those that cannot afford insurance even greater. That means if you are rich enough to afford insurance you can have a baby but if not you cant. That seems to be a problem. The other question that comes to mind when discussing mandating this coverage is whether that treatment would be included in the lifetime maximum on coverage.

If it does, having this treatment could put these patients out of coverage well before they were older. In conclusion, this is still a very confusing field as far as whether or not it is a disability and if it is, how it should be treated. Is treating it as a disability opening a very large can of worms? What about mothers that cannot have normal children because of a problem with genes (Henkel, Hajimohammad, & Stalf, 2004). Two of the greatest complaints of the public today is the cost of healthcare and the cost of insurance.

Under this ruling will not both increase?ReferencesHenkel R, Hajimohammad M, Stalf T. et.al. (2004). Influence of deoxyribonucleic acid damage on fertilization and pregnancy. Fertility and Sterility 81, 965-972Reed S, and VanHorn S. (2001). Medical and psychological aspects of infertility and assisted reproductive technology for the primary care provider. Military Medicine 166(11). 1018.Walker, P. (2010). The impact of Bragdon v. Abbot on persons affected by infertility. retrieved from http://www.inciid.org/printpage.php?cat=benetfits&id=414.