Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Date of Graduation
Spring 2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Department
Department of Political Science
Advisor(s)
John Scherpereel
Jessica Adolino
Robert Goebel
Abstract
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is an ailment like no other. Despite huge improvements in treatments for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, those living with the disease continue to suffer from treatment inequality and discrimination. This is especially true in the European Union (EU), which is a supranational entity that works to improve prosperity, equality, and wellbeing among member-states. Despite extensive EU efforts to improve the standard of living across the inter-governmental body, treatment inequality for those living with HIV/AIDS in the EU continues to be a major issue. This study hypothesized that a strong EU initiative, which would establish a European Healthcare System with firm treatment guidelines, would reduce inequality and work to improve the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS in the EU. This study was divided into several parts, which analyzed the procedural characteristics of the British, German, and Italian healthcare systems, as well as that of the existing healthcare policies and initiatives in the EU. Each of the preceding cases were EU countries that have significantly different treatment experiences for HIV/AIDS patients compared to the EU average. Additional case studies were also conducted to analyze the legal and social frameworks affecting this disease in each case. Results of this investigation indicated that a common EU-healthcare policy might ultimately be effective in improving treatment equality across the continent. However, it was also shown that current financial troubles affecting member-states, coupled with waning public support for the EU, would create divides in the European community, and a supranational healthcare policy would likely be counter- productive to improving patient’s lives.
Recommended Citation
Hammarin, Victor, "HIV/AIDS and the European Union" (2016). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 224.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/224
