Kids vaccinated without my consent

[mamawrites612]

I have a 7 year old and a 4 year old daughter that I lost temporary custody of to my ex-husband. His girlfriend recently took my daughters to my family doctor and vaccinated my kids without my consent. I expressed my outrage to the clinic and got nothing but a letter showing what other vaxes they need--currently my 7-year-old has had 20 vaccinations, when I had a conscientious exemption on file with her school and the clinic knew my intentions. My ex-husband was working when the girls were taken to the doctor by his girlfriend and he claims it was legal because he gave her permission to take them to the doctor.

Is this true or do I have any legal recourse?

[emmy526]

You should talk to a lawyer about it. Dont go on what your ex is saying. he's gonna do what he wants and what his GF wants, not what you want. so unless it is a court order not to vax, you may not have any legal standing. 

[Marnica]

It wouldn't hurt to consult a lawyer, but I do not think you have any legal recourse. From what I understand, your ex is exercising his parental rights. If he gave permission for the vaccines and to his g-friend, than I don't think there is much you can do, especially when they is in his custody right now. Im so sorry this happened. When children get caught in the middle of custody issues and end up having something like this happen - it really should be criminal.

[hailey1312]

If they have your exemption or refusal on file they should not vaccinate even with another parent's consent. I don't think they are supposed to do that. I would contact a lawyer

[member234098]

I 

Edited by member234098 - 5/31/12 at 6:01pm

[zylph]

What legal recourse?  Are you going to recall the vaccinations?

Doctors will take any excuse to do what they think is best for their patients, and vaccinations are part of that.  If you left a gold-plated letter with your PCP, he/she would still typically vaccinate if your ex had custody for literally 5 minutes.

If you're planning on suing, I'm sorry but, no.  A parent consented to a non-invasive procedure, typically considered benign if not beneficial.

[sosurreal09]

OMG 20 vax in that short time?! WOW. I'm super pissed for you. What would they have done if they had any reaction to all of that? Just say "Oh sorry"? WTF?!

My DD has had severe (but thankfully reversible) reactions to any and all vax she has ever gotten even when we tried to just do one isolated vax! If that ever happened to her she would probably be done for...That is such bull.

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by hailey1312 

If they have your exemption or refusal on file they should not vaccinate even with another parent's consent. I don't think they are supposed to do that. I would contact a lawyer

That's not true. It sounds like, at minimum, they have/had joint legal custody. This means that BOTH parents get a say in medical/dental/education/religious decisions. Which means that this mom cannot decide that the children are not to be vaccinated, without the father's input. The father has just as much say in the vaccine decision as the mother does.

It's absolutely horrible that the children got that many vaccines in such a short amount of time, but the father did nothing illegal.

[member234098]

Y

Edited by member234098 - 5/31/12 at 6:01pm

[TheGirls]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

Sorry this happened.  That is just terrible.  Just the same, I hope they are OK.

Wow.  Just wow.  So if the kids aren't perfect she should just give them up?  If they fall and get a permanent injury while with him should she just abandon them in that  case too?  What a horrible thing to say!!

I'm sorry this is happening OP, but like the others, I suspect it is legal since a parent consented to the vaxes. 

[WildKingdom]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

Sorry this happened.  That is just terrible.  Just the same, I hope they are OK.

Wow.  Would you also put your new puppy to sleep if it accidentally peed on the rug????

[heathergirl67]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

Sorry this happened.  That is just terrible.  Just the same, I hope they are OK.

My dad told my (now) dh, when he came to michigan to pack up me and ds and move us to kentucky- "no returns, refunds or exchanges". Of course, I was 23 and he was joking....

I am hoping miriam is joking as well. A very poor joke, perhaps.

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

Sorry this happened.  That is just terrible.  Just the same, I hope they are OK.

Um, I sure hope you don't mean this the way it sounds.  Because it sounds TERRIBLE.

OP, I'm very sorry about what your ex and his girlfriend did.  But like the others, I'm fairly certain you have no legal recourse.

[Honey693]

I'm pretty sure unless you are the only one with legal custody your child's father can have a say in their medical care.  I don't think you have any legal recourse and I don't see how expressing outrage at some poor clinic worker is going to do anything.  They're just doing what a legal guardian wanted.

[amma_mama]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

Sorry this happened.  That is just terrible.  Just the same, I hope they are OK.

I have been asked to edit my response to this statement so here is my new response:
 

I sincerely hope that you are joking. I cannot imagine a scenario under which I would not care for my child, irrespective of whose "fault" it was that my child was hurt. I would hope any child with ill effects from a vaccine, or any other source, would continue to be loved and cared for by his/her parents and that neither parent would be demonized for making a medical decision on behalf of their own child.

Edited by amma_mama - 7/29/11 at 3:59am

[Attila the Honey]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

Sorry this happened.  That is just terrible.  Just the same, I hope they are OK.

[elmh23]

If you do not have joint custody or a court order saying no vaccinations, then you do not have any recourse.

Miriam, wow.  Just..... wow.

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

Sorry this happened.  That is just terrible.  Just the same, I hope they are OK.

Wtf??

[swede]

Originally Posted by miriam 

Let your husband raise them especially if there are any ill effects from the vaccines.  

Sorry this happened.  That is just terrible.  Just the same, I hope they are OK.

Miriam, this attitude saddens me.   I am not trying to be snarky, but this suggestion just blows my mind.  These are the op's children we are talking about. 

Edited.  Thank you :)

Edited by swede - 7/28/11 at 10:54pm