Position Paper: A culmination of your work in the course and focusing on one of the arguments.
The 5-6 page (maximum) Position Paper will include: (1) An introduction to the argument on your public health issue(s) of choice (including a clear thesis); (2) Major findings in the literature that support your position for the paper; (3) A conclusion; and (4) at least 6 CREDIBLE (e.g., peer reviewed journals) citations accompanied by a reference list at the end of the paper.
List of topics: (Choose one topic)
-Will Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) Negatively Affect Human Health and the Environment?
-Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
-Do the Benefits of Statin Drugs Outweigh the Risks?
-Does the Affordable Health Care Act Violate Religious Freedom?
-Is the Affordable Health Care Act Successful?
-Should the Healthcare System Continuously Strive to Extend Life?
-Is There a Link Between Vaccination and Autism?
-Do Religion and Prayer Benefit Health?
-Should Addiction to Drugs Be Labeled a Brain Disease?
-Are Energy Drinks with Alcohol Dangerous Enough to Ban?
-Is the Cost of Treating Cancer Unsustainable?
-Is There a Valid Link Between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease?
-Is Weight-Loss Maintenance Possible?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The position paper is an important assignment that allows medical college students to delve deeper into a public health issue of their choice. Students will be required to conduct thorough research, identify major findings in the literature that support their position and construct a clear thesis statement. In this assignment, students are expected to provide well-researched arguments with supporting evidence and credible citations.
Answer:
Topic: Does the Affordable Health Care Act Violate Religious Freedom?
Introduction:
The Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) introduced a number of provisions that have been met with criticism from religious groups. The issue of religious liberty has been debated by various religious organizations, lawmakers, the public, and other interested parties. This paper aims to explore whether the ACA violates religious freedom by examining the provisions in the act and the arguments of those who oppose it.
Thesis Statement:
The ACA violates religious freedom as it requires religious institutions to provide health care services that are in contradiction to their beliefs, making it difficult for individuals and institutions to maintain their religious identity and mission.
Major Findings:
The ACA mandates that employers provide insurance coverage for contraceptive services, including drugs and devices that abort fertilized eggs. This provision has been controversial among religious groups, particularly Catholics and evangelical Christians, who view contraception as morally wrong. Religious institutions, such as Catholic universities and hospitals, have been exempted from this provision but are still required to provide a referral for contraceptive services. Many religious organizations argue that providing a referral is tantamount to being complicit in an act that goes against their beliefs.
The ACA also requires employers to provide coverage for other medical services, such as sterilization and abortion. This has been a source of dispute for many religious organizations, as these procedures are also against their beliefs. The idea that institutions would have to comply with a federal law that requires them to go against their religious beliefs is a direct violation of religious freedom.
In conclusion, the ACA has been a contentious issue since its enactment, and the issue of religious freedom has been at the center of the debate. The act violates the religious freedom of religious institutions by requiring them to provide insurance coverage for services that are not aligned with their
