ABSTRACT
This chapter examines several important political and philosophical values that are at the very foundation of the U.S. health care delivery system. This begins with political values regarding the nature of the U.S. economy and whether health care goods and services are commodities to be bought and sold just as are other goods and services. This economic value significantly impacts the view of the appropriate role for the government in the health care system. There are different political and philosophical values among health professionals on this question, including some tensions between medical and public health professionals. Cultural beliefs in science and technology are very important in the health care system, although these beliefs are challenged by the apparent success of some of the alternative healing practices, as discussed in Chapter 4. The chapter concludes with two specific examples of how these political, philosophical, and cultural values dictate health care services that are available to people. Examining these values helps us understand the idiosyncrasies of the U.S. health care system, as well as the challenges of reforming the U.S. health care system.
