In our society, we rely on the systems around us for everything we do and for guidelines for our daily life. Flanigan brings up an interesting point when it comes to the prescription system, specifically prescription drug laws and how they violate our rights to self-medication. These arguments over a doctor’s role vs. a patient’s decision in how they self-medicate quickly becomes an ethical one as the expertise of doctors gets placed over the personal judgement and feelings of the patient. Although there is no question that a doctor understands certain medications and treatments better than a patient, the patient themselves understands their health and should in the end have the final word when it comes to their bodies. Flanigan brings up a good point that this in turn would alter the position of physicians in the patients lives as they become regulators and help patients make informed decisions on their own.

Hidaligo on the other hand questions the role that citizens play in the regulation of immigration. I agree that the role of policing illegal immigration should not be in the hands of American citizens, but rather on the men and women hired to do so. Similarly to Flanigan, it brings up ethical concerns as would this then be considered a violation of the rights of the immigrants?

It is very easy for us as outsiders to make assumptions about immigrants and about patients going against the word/decisions of doctors when it comes to our health, but in the moment these people are doing what is best for the well-being. Although some people may disagree with their decisions, these people still have rights and must be treated that way.