The Debate Over America’s Poor Health Care Performance: Risky Behavior of Youth vs. High Cost and Poor Outcomes

In a recent article, Charles Fain Lehman discussed the declining life expectancy of Americans compared to their European counterparts. However, John R. Gaither argues that Lehman neglected to address America’s poor performance in other health care measures, such as infant and maternal mortality. Gaither also notes that America’s poor performance comes at twice the per capita cost of other countries. Lehman attributes America’s poor health care performance to the “risky behavior of America’s youth” and argues that policy-based solutions would unreasonably restrict Americans’ freedoms. Gaither questions whether this is a price too high to pay for America’s “allergy to enlightenment.” Lehman responds by stating that nonmedical causes of death drive the life-expectancy gap and that medical remedies are unlikely to have much of an impact. He also notes that he is agnostic on the values at play but that many Americans value freedom over life years and that policy-makers must consider social realities when making policy.