Reference no: EM133397328
A key element to the advocacy project is the selection of the law, or portion of one, or regulation to be changed. Another key element is to be precise about the change you intend, both in what it is and how it will be done. Another is to not simply transfer an idea from a journal or copy it with referencing.
Select a change that is not too large or too minimal. For example, creating some form of universal healthcare might be too much. This will end up not having sufficient detail and would end up being more of a position paper than a demonstration of your mastery of a law, rule or regulation. Proposing a deletion or change in a minor regulation, no matter how absurd or annoying that requirement is, is not sufficiently challenging. Just to say delete something is not a good project. Creating something new, or changing an existing law or rule or regulation can be. For example, proposing a way that would allow physicians to discuss with their patients gun use in the home to ensure child safety that would also be sufficiently acceptable to those who consider this a possible erosion of the Second Amendment, could be a good project.
A good project would require some thought and understanding of the needs and goals of many interested parties. This is not a chance to try to persuade the reader of your opinion or get your opinion on record. It is a chance to demonstrate you have done quality research into an aspect of a law and that like a surgeon, you have sculpted out a direction that will improve the law. Spending too much time trying to convince others to accept your side at the expense of discussing the problem, its history, the change, and how it would be done, is something to avoid.
Grading is on how well you meet the criteria and has nothing to do with whether the reader agrees with you. This project requires in depth study of the law or regulation. If one uses faulty type reasoning in the legal changes proposed, full credit will not be earned. Select a change, demonstrate who will benefit, how the situation came about, what entity would make the change, like Congress, or a state legislature, or a governor or President, or an administrative agency, and who will and will not support your change. One could select a variety of means to implement a change. Some may have to be done by the states due to the Police Powers, Tenth Amendment. Some laws can be done federally, even in health issues using as a justification the Interstate Commerce Clause. While anecdotes can illustrate a point, quantitative information is better. Examine the questions the assignment asks you to address..
Creative Advocacy Project
Select a law, rule, or systemic change related to health law and describe a change that will make the world a better place. The student shall address the questions below and follow the rules listed. The headings can be the questions to be addressed, if you choose. Describe your change addressing the following four questions:
1. Why is there a need for a change? Who is hurt by the present situation? Who will benefit from the change? How will others be affected by the change? Quantify and humanize the harm and damage done as needed.
2. Describe the history of the law, rule, or regulation. How did it get this way? Explain the historical foundations that got the situation the way it is. Be specific. In order to change something it helps to know how it got the way it is.
3. What law, rule, or regulation related to health needs changed? This is the core of the project, and is a specific change. It needs to have a practical aspect, having some feasibility and measurability. You may want to start this with a description of what your ideal state would be in the area of the change you propose. This is a projection of what you would like to see without regard to immediate practicality or taking incremental steps to that end. Define terms not understood by a layperson. You might define universal healthcare as your ideal state, and identify a change such as expanding Medicare to all or a group of citizens as your change that will be described as a substantial step in the direction of an ideal. You may want to end abortion, but knowing the Supreme Court reversing a precedent or a Constitutional amendment are the primary means to that change, it would not be a good topic choice. Just discussing the issue or your position is not the intent of the assignment.
4. What is needed legally to change the situation? How will this be achieved? This is not about how to enact a law. It is what entity would have to take what action to effect the change. Who will support it? Are there faith-based groups that will support or propose your change? Will it involve bipartisan political support, or be supported only by some political elements? Who will be against it?