Do parents have the right to make vax decisions for their kids? - Page 2

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by lovebeingamomma 

Take out peer pressure or any other outside influence, I can't see any kid, 5, 12, 15, I don't care how old, deciding to go out and get a shot, even if it were best for them. 

I just wanted to point out that I have known several children, and was one myself, who chose to get regular shots.  I started allergy shots before I was 10.  I understood the pain of the shots and made the decision that I was willing to put up with that for the possible reward of less severe allergies.  My 14 year old niece has made the same decision.  Just today, though, my 12  year old DD decided she is *not* willing to go through the shots to lessen her allergies.

Not the same thing, but it is a shot/reward situation.
 

Originally Posted by SilverMoon010 

I agree.  I don't vax so my post was written from a nonvaxer point of view.  I just couldn't see handing my child all of this research material on vaccines when they are a teen and saying "Go knock yourself out. It's your decision. Your old enough now."  Kids just don't understand all of the fear-mongering and politics out there that I couldn't see giving them this responsibility. Not vaccinating is the default though, so it's easier for me to say all of this because what kid is going to come to their parents and say they want to get vaccinated? If it was the other way around and I vaccinated completely and stood by vaccines totally and my child came to me one day and said they didn't want anymore, I don't know how I'd feel.  It makes for a different situation.  Tough call and perhaps a double standard.

[MsFortune]

Of course we do.  

I'm not going to ask my kids if they want to go to the dentist.  I'm the parent, I understand long term consequences, and they need to go to the dentist.  End of story.  Children cannot and should not make health decisions for themselves.

And I can't just put off healthcare decisions until they turn 18.  It's my job to keep them safe.

It's not just my right - it's my moral and legal obligation to make health decisions for my children.  

[Jugs]

Originally Posted by TiredX2 

I just wanted to point out that I have known several children, and was one myself, who chose to get regular shots.  I started allergy shots before I was 10.  I understood the pain of the shots and made the decision that I was willing to put up with that for the possible reward of less severe allergies.  My 14 year old niece has made the same decision.  Just today, though, my 12  year old DD decided she is *not* willing to go through the shots to lessen her allergies.

Not the same thing, but it is a shot/reward situation.
 

Hehe, when my 6-year-old was due for a varicella vax I showed him a picture of what chicken pox looks like and asked him if he'd rather get the shot or look like that for a week or two. He picked the shot.
 

[Turquesa]

Kathymuggle, just curious....California was considering a law (maybe it passed???) that would allow children to opt for the HPV vaccine WITHOUT parental consent.  In line with allowing children to make their own decisions, what do you think of this idea?

[kathymuggle]

I would be Ok with a 16 or 17 yr old making a decision to vax if it was an informed decision (informed - has researched fairly extensively).

Ontario allows informed consent of minors that are quite a bit younger - say 13 or so.  I am not Ok with this for 2 reasons:

1.  I am not sure a 13 yr is capable of grasping the issues

2.  The way it is done:  it is vax day at school!  The nurse talks to you and if you say "ok" you get the vax.  There is an element of peer pressure to the whole thing, as well as difficulty with youth saying "no" to authority.  If a youth wants a vax, they should have to maker an appointment for it.

This part may have a non-vaxxing bias, but so be it: 

You can always vax later, you cannot unvax.  As such I am more comfortable with a youth delaying the decision than not. 

[philomom]

Originally Posted by MsFortune 

Of course we do.  

I'm not going to ask my kids if they want to go to the dentist.  I'm the parent, I understand long term consequences, and they need to go to the dentist.  End of story.  Children cannot and should not make health decisions for themselves.

And I can't just put off healthcare decisions until they turn 18.  It's my job to keep them safe.

It's not just my right - it's my moral and legal obligation to make health decisions for my children.  

Yay! That was my line of thinking, too.

My son is intact and my dd didn't get her ears pierced until she begged at 16 to have it done.

But yes, dental; care, braces, physical therapy after an injury? These are things most children would not choose but its my responsibility as a parent to choose for them.

I don't own my children, but I am their caretaker so they arrive safely at the age of adulthood healthy and in one piece.

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by philomom 



But yes, dental; care, braces, physical therapy after an injury? These are things most children would not choose but its my responsibility as a parent to choose for them.
 

To each their own.  I would not bring a youth for non-emergency medical care unless they were compliant.  I doubt the dentist would want a 16 yr old there who was not in agreement with being there!

If i thought the issue was important, I would explore with the youth why they should have xyz done - but I would not use parental force. 

My 15 yr old  does not like going to the dentist (nor do most people).  He does want to keep his teeth, however, so he voluntarily goes.  There is no force involved.  Older youth are capable of seeking unpleasant medical care that they agree there is a need for.

[philomom]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

To each their own.  I would not bring a youth for non-emergency medical care unless they were compliant.  I doubt the dentist would want a 16 yr old there who was not in agreement with being there!

If i thought the issue was important, I would explore with the youth why they should have xyz done - but I would not use parental force. 

My 15 yr old  does not like going to the dentist (nor do most people).  He does want to keep his teeth, however, so he voluntarily goes.  There is no force involved.  Older youth are capable of seeking unpleasant medical care that they agree there is a need for.

I personally believe it highly irresponsible of a parent to not get your child adequate medical care, even if the child doesn't like it.

Failure to provide adequate medical care can be a factor in having children removed from your care.
http://library.adoption.com/articles/risk-and-protective-factors-for-child-abuse-and-neglect.html


I can think of three Pharaohs that died because of tooth abscess.... its a painful way to go. You'd let your kid die because they didn't agree to be treated?

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by philomom 



I personally believe it highly irresponsible of a parent to not get your child adequate medical care, even if the child doesn't like it.

Failure to provide adequate medical care can be a factor in having children removed from your care.
http://library.adoption.com/articles/risk-and-protective-factors-for-child-abuse-and-neglect.html


I can think of three Pharaohs that died because of tooth abscess.... its a painful way to go. You'd let your kid die because they didn't agree to be treated?

Did you read my post?  

I said non-emergency medical care and I specified with older youth. A tooth abscess is an emergency - I would insist on care.  I also said I would work with them on any issues they had about "non-essential but still a good idea" medical care.  

A 16 year old is 2 years away from being an adult.  In 2 years they will have all say in their medical care.  I think it is appropriate to start handing over this responsibility to older teens - and teach them how to research, etc.  Non-essential medical interventions are a good place to start.

Vaxxes, unless there is a serious epidemic going on, are not an emergency.

FWIW, I have never had a child refuse medical care I thought was necessary.  Ever.  If they did I would listen to their concerns, work with them, and possibly defer things if it were an older youth and the issue at hand were not a huge deal.  That is empowering them to make their own health decisions.  

edited to add:  I doubt very much CPS would care that I (fictional example, but fits in with "non-essential") wanted my 16 yr old to have his wart removed, he didn't, we researched the issue and decided to re-address in 6 months.