Human Dignity and Common Good in Healthcare Article 2022

Running head: HUMAN DIGNITY AND COMMON GOOD IN HEALTHCARE 1
Human Dignity and Common Good in Healthcare
Name
Institution

HUMAN DIGNITY AND COMMON GOOD IN HEALTHCARE 2
Human Dignity and Common Good in Healthcare
Human dignity
Human dignity is the conventional idea that people must enjoy certain unalienable rights
and freedoms. These rights must be respected by other human beings. For instance, dignified
humans believe that life is very precious and no individual has a right to take away the life of
another, whatsoever. Massaro (2015) asserts that all humans are intelligent, rational and free and
thus, their lives should be respected. Among all the concepts guarding human life in a medical
setting, the concept of human dignity is undeniably the most vital of all. This is because the
concept reminds medical pactitioners to uphold utmost respect for human life. Preserving human
dignity is a fundamental requirement in establishing harmonious and virtuous societies (Audi,
2012). A doctor, for instance, who abides by this concept is unlikely to harm any of his patient
because he/she is directed by the supremacy of human dignity in humans. The concept of human
dignity is central in medical dialogues regarding to issues such as assisted euthnasia and
abortion.
When I heard the news about Australia's initiative to host an extra 12,000 refugees from
Syria and Iraq, I was very delighted of the nation's benevolence (Mediablog.catholic.org.au,
2019). The action meant that Australia not only aimed at improving its citizen’s welfare but also
was concerned by other countries’ people. The act of taking an extra 12,000 refugees is not only
a sign to showcase the county’s humanity but also a gesture to express the concern for humanity.
Apart from hosting these refugees, the Australian government would also provide the refugees
with proper healthcare, sanitation and food.

HUMAN DIGNITY AND COMMON GOOD IN HEALTHCARE 3
For the stability and sustainability of our future societies, existing societies must
recognize the importance of common good within their day to day activities
(Mediablog.catholic.org.au, 2019).The concept of common good demands the promoting ctions
that tend to consider the well being of other members of the community. Hitherto, I believe that
it is the idea of common good thatbinds the individual members of the community to leave
harmoniously. My simple definition of this concept is ‘doing unto others what you would wish
others to do unto you'. A more refined definition of the concept is found in the
catholicsocialteachings.org.uk website which describes common good as the summation of
conditions that permit the community members to fulfill their needs efficiently (2019). By
considering the general public's welfares, we end up improving our welfares.
In his popular speech about climate change in the world, Pope Francis reminded us that to
achieve future sustainable societies, we have to consider the practising the concept of the
common good. The Holy Pope deserves to be applauded of his climate change speech. Francis
writes that he is concerned with global practices that tend to jeopardize and prejudice the concept
of the common good. Although the Pope is not an environmentalist, he did not hesistate to
pinpoint climatic change as a threat to our future sustainability. According to Grace (2013), the
Pope has also been showing concerns on issues such as capitalism, socialism, and globalization.
As medical practitioners, we are supposed emulate the Pope and be conversant with the diverse
worldwide issues and trends that may hinder the common good. Our focus should not be limited
to the issues in the medical field.
As a doctor, I am much aggrieved by the Australian government's sluggish movement
towards improving the accessibility to health care facilities for our patients Although the major
proportion of Australians can access health services, the concept of human dignity demands