The Death Gap: How Inequality Kills

Ansell argues that the fundamental perception of healthcare in the United States—whether it is treated as a human right or a commodity—significantly influences health outcomes and perpetuates systemic inequities. Ansell’s exploration of this theme reveals both ethical and practical implications, stressing the need for a paradigm shift in how healthcare is conceptualized and delivered.

Ansell argues that treating healthcare as a commodity inherently prioritizes profit over patient well-being, leading to significant disparities in access and quality of care. This market-driven approach creates a healthcare system where those with financial resources can secure high-quality care, while marginalized and low-income populations face barriers to basic medical services. Ansell illustrates this with stark examples from his experience as a physician in Chicago, where hospitals in affluent areas offer advanced treatments and state-of-the-art facilities, while those in impoverished neighborhoods struggle with underfunding and limited resources. This discrepancy reflects deeper systemic issues where financial incentives overshadow the ethical imperative to provide equitable care.

Ansell juxtaposes the market-driven understanding of the healthcare system as a commodity with a more fundamental, humanistic attitude, which is at the foundation of his book. He argues that “health is a fundamental human right and not a commodity to be traded and sold in a marketplace” (13).