Ethical implications of the liberals' support and conservatives' resistance to the affordable care act

Abstract EN

The reform of the American healthcare sector was always a major source of contest between liberals and conservatives.

This conflict came to the surface with signing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law in 2010.

In assessing the liberals' and conservatives' positions from the ACA reform, this research utilizes the ethical principles involved in Principlism and Utilitarianism.

It relies on case study and content analysis approaches as research tools and empirical inquiries to trace the ethicality behind the liberal-conservative continuous debate.

Through connecting theory to practice, this qualitative and quantitative analysis of the ideological struggle concludes with the perception that liberals' positions demonstrate more respect to the rules of Principlism and public health ethics.