A Study on Health Equality, Freedom of Speech, and Hate Speech

This essay delves into the critical issues of health equality, freedom of speech, and hate speech, particularly focusing on their impact within the healthcare sector. The paper examines the nuances of free speech versus hate speech, highlighting the detrimental effects of racial discrimination in health services. It explores how societal biases and prejudices, often amplified through media platforms, can compromise equitable access to healthcare. The essay discusses the importance of defending free speech while condemning hate speech, emphasizing the need for societal awareness and intervention, including media responsibility and administrative actions, to combat discriminatory practices and promote a more inclusive healthcare environment. The paper references key academic sources to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive analysis of these interconnected issues.

Running head: HEALTH EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Health Equality and Human Rights
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HEALTH EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Introduction
The following paper deals with the question of the difference between the freedom od
speech and the hate speech. The impact of the racial discrimination has been a huge issue in the
modern times (Matsuda 2018). This is why the aspects of cultural diversity are treated with
utmost care and sensitiveness. The impact and direction of speech is also a very important issue
in this scenario as well. The racial discrimination has become a social evil in the health sector as
well.
The freedom of speech
If it is spoken technically, it can be said that the freedom of speech of free speech is
something that can be spoken but no legal action can be taken against the speaker. People cannot
stop someone who will say the racist things to the people. On the other hand, hate speech is
something where harm is done to someone in the bad ways. It may seem that some people do not
like the ethnic and cultural background of some people and they will say the bad things about it.
Of course, it is not a margin of offence for which he can be arrested. The freedom speech can be
supported to an extent but it will affect the integrity in the society.
Hate speech
It must be said if a person threatens the others to kill or do any harm to the people this
will always be a matter of hate speech. This cannot be supported at all. The direction of the
speech will be from the people belonging to so called ethnic majority to the so called minority
indeed. This will be a major backdrop for the health sector as well. The freedom of speech is a
very important aspect indeed. This is why it would be highly important to make protest against

2HEALTH EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
the hate speeches and stop doing the harm to the common people indeed (Mitchell 2016). Hate
speeches are very harmful for the individuals.
Impact of free speech and hate speech in health
The racial factors come into play when the health organizations provide their services. If
the people who belong to minority section seek for some healthcare they should not be rejected
on the basis of their ethnic background indeed (Waldron 2012). In this case the free speech must
be defended for the societal issues indeed. However, some experts have highlighted the fact that
too much dependence on the free speech will surely pave the way for the hate speeches that is
not at all acceptable (Fiss 2018).
Role of press and media
The press and media have a role to play in the matter of free speech and hate speech as
well. The free exchange of the several ideas in the society in the democratic background of the
countries is very much needed (Warner and Hirschberg 2012).
Conclusion
The above discussion can be concluded by saying that the people might be allowed to
speak freely or reveal their thoughts of deep within but it should be justified and not the way one
can be harmed because of their actions. The press should raise their voices in the social media
platforms and make the people aware of this (Fiss 2018). The users of social media who provoke
the use of the hate speeches should be banned or blocked. Strict actions should be taken by the
administration as well.

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References
Fiss, O., 2018. Liberalism divided: Freedom of speech and the many uses of state power.
Routledge.
Matsuda, M.J., 2018. Public response to racist speech: Considering the victim’s story. In Words
that wound (pp. 17-51). Routledge.
Mitchell, D., 2016. The liberalization of free speech: Or, how protest in public space is
silenced. Spaces of Contention: Spatialities and Social Movements, 47.
Waldron, J., 2012. The harm in hate speech. Harvard University Press.
Warner, W. and Hirschberg, J., 2012, June. Detecting hate speech on the world wide web.
In Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Language in Social Media (pp. 19-26). Association
for Computational Linguistics.