Rev. Danny Fisher

Amnesty International is circulating a petition regarding health care in the United States that I signed tonight.  The venerable, Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights organization makes its points so well, that I find myself with absolutely nothing to add.  Suffice it to say, I agree with everything they have said–which is why I’ve added my name to the petiton.  I hope you will do the same.  It reads:

We believe that health care is a right, not a privilege or a commodity. To fulfill the human right to health care, the U.S. health care system must meet these principles:

1. Universality: This means that everyone in the United States has the human right to health care. Reform measures should ensure that every person has access to comprehensive, quality health care. No one should be discriminated against on the basis of income, health status, gender, race, age, immigration status or other factors.
2. Equity: This means that benefits and contributions should be shared fairly to create a system that works for everyone. Health care is a public good, not a commodity. Gaps in the health care system should be eliminated so that all communities, rich and poor, have access to comprehensive, quality treatment and services. Publicly financed and administered health care should be expanded as the strongest vehicle for making health care accessible and accountable.
3. Accountability: This means that the U.S. government has a responsibility to ensure that care comes first. All players in the health care system, whether public or private, have human rights obligations, and must be accountable to the people. The U.S. government is ultimately responsible for ensuring that both public agencies and private companies make health care decisions based on health needs, not on profit margins or other factors.

Organizations that have endorsed these principles include the Health Care is a Human Right Coalition (AI, the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, the National Health Law Program, Opportunity Agenda); the Asian American Justice Center; the Center for Constitutional Rights; the Center for Reproductive Rights; Healthcare-NOW!; the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights; the International Center for Traditional Childbearing; Ipas; the Montana Human Rights Network; the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health; the National Organization for Women; Partners In Health; the People’s Health Movement; Physicians for Human Rights; United Electrical; and the Vermont Workers’ Center.

You can add your name here.

["Doctors and other supporters of health care overhaul attend a candlelight vigil in New York City in September 2009. The gathering was one of hundreds nationwide honoring those suffering under the current health care system."  Photo by Mario Tama for Getty Images.]