Should defunding the police be a bioethics priority?
by Michael Cook | 20 Jun 2020 |
Protests in Portland / Tito Texidor III on Unsplash
In the wake of riots after the death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis City Council has decided to “defund” its police department. Although what this means is far from clear, it is clearly a popular response to the problem of police brutality against African-Americans.
Not all African-Americans back the idea, of course. Economist Glenn Loury, for instance, says, “We need the cops. Cultivating a sensibility in our people of distrust and contempt for the cops is self-destructive. It’s wrongheaded.”
However, writing in the blog of the American Journal of Bioethics, Nicole Martinez-Martin argues that defunding American police departments should be an issue for the bioethics community.
Prioritizing police over public investment in children, education, transportation and health services raises issues of health equity and distributing justice. Reviewing city budgets drives home that choices are being made to direct money away from a social safety net for communities in favor of policing. Even public services like parks and recreation, which may not seem to serve immediate public health goals, do have an impact on the health of Black communities, considering the role of green spaces (which are often lacking in communities of color in U.S. cities) and children’s after-school and summer programs in reducing stress levels, and improving education skills and overall mental health. Overzealous policing practices in Black communities contributes also contribute directly and indirectly to health disparities.
She concludes that “Bioethicists can contribute to the public discourse regarding defunding efforts – explaining the critical need to reallocate funding away from the police and towards providing social workers, mental health counselors, nurses (and so on) to serve and protect the health of Black communities.”
Michael Cook is editor of BioEdge
Sweden has followed a different Covid-19 strategy. Instead of imposing quarantines and lockdowns, it had a "common sense" policy of voluntary social distancing, border closures, and limits on crowds. Although it didn't mention the phrase "herd immunity", that was essentially its goal.
However, something went very wrong with its policy for nursing homes. As in other countries, residents were treated as second-class citizens and often did not receive adequate treatment. Thousands have died. Why?
BioEdge's editor is going on holidays this week, so there will be no newsletter next weekend. We'll be back in mid-July.
Michael Cook
Editor
However, something went very wrong with its policy for nursing homes. As in other countries, residents were treated as second-class citizens and often did not receive adequate treatment. Thousands have died. Why?
BioEdge's editor is going on holidays this week, so there will be no newsletter next weekend. We'll be back in mid-July.
Michael Cook
Editor
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