nervous about going back to ped.

[3lilpunkins]

I regretfully allowed my son to recieve the hep.b shot after birth. I used a reigious exemption for his 2 month shots, and the ped. was like, "the only religion that doesn't allow vaxes is christian science, so if you dont belong to that group, I don't know if its really a matter of faith" I live in NC, the law doesn't say only certain religious groups may be exempted, it simply says if the parent or gaurdian's religious beliefs are contrary to vaxes, they may be exempted.So anyway, we're going for his 4 month visit, on oct.28. I just afraid he's really gonna get on my case.I was wondering if anyone has any good arguements for the relig. exempt.
I know, I can say, hep.b is contracted from immoral behavior,chicken pox & MMR have aborted fetus tissue....is there anything else???

[peainthepod]

You have no obligation to defend your religious beliefs to your doctor. Simply tell him it's not open for discussion and that you are comfortable with your relationship with your God.

I just interviewed a GP who grilled me about our religious beliefs because we told him we had religious objections to vaccination. He kept asking what religion we were even after I made it clear that such questions were irrelevant. Finally I told him that we would be coming to him for medical care, not salvation, and he dropped it.

It's none of his business. Don't let him engage you in such an inappropriate conversation. I believe religious discrimination may also be grounds for a complaint to the state licensing board, so keep that in mind.

P.S. If you really want to give people the name of an organized religion, you could always tell them you belong to the Congregation of Universal Wisdom, which I believe was started by a group of chiropractors for this very reason.

[Sheryl1678]

I received a similar interrogation from my DD's ped because she was fully vaccinated until almost a year old and then I suddenly stopped cold turkey after doing some research.

They told me a religious exemption couldn't apply to me since I had already started so I told them I had just joined a church. They knew I was lying through my teeth and they were openly hostile, gave me a bunch of scare tactics and I never went back.

[Scattershoot]

So anyway, we're going for his 4 month visit, on oct.28. I just afraid he's really gonna get on my case.

I'm sorry the doctor was so condescending to your beliefs. Unfortunately, saying "no" to a doctor's beliefs is very difficult for them to swallow. They are convinced that vaccines are mankind's saving grace. They DEEPLY believe that and if you choose to not vaccinate that challenges their ENTIRE belief system, which in turn makes them VERY defensive. If you think about it, just about every profession would feel pretty much the same way if the way they did things was challenged. If your plumber said, "we need to do this to make things better," and you said, "I don't agree with that," then the plumber might get offended and even angry.

If you don't think the plumber is doing things right, then you'd think twice about using that plumber, I believe seeing doctors is no different. We are convinced that children need well baby check-ups from doctors. I personally think this is silly. Others would certainly disagree, but I just don't see the point of going out of my way to spend time with someone I know disrespects me and my parenting decisions, and on top of that will make me feel like crap.

[3lilpunkins]

OK thanks everyone.
If I didnt take him for well check ups, couldnt that be considered neglect?
I mean when I take him in when he's sick, (which is also becoming less & less, I'd rather treat them at home instead of antibiotics.)

At least my husband comes with & supports me, he's much more outspoken and bold than I am, even though he's not exactly sure on why we think vax are bad. lol.

[Mandala126]

If you're concerned about neglect (as I was when we stopped seeing a ped at 4mo as well), consider taking your LO to a chiropractor. My DD sees one regularly and the chirop. said that those visits count and she can always back me up with her paperwork showing that I'm taking DD to see a health care prof. on a regular basis.
I'm glad your LO is getting sick less and less. :

[Gitti]

My grandson got one more vaccine at age 15 mo. After that we smartened up and also quit going to wbv. That was over 10 years ago.

We have treated everything ourselves. Or I should say, we left it all up to his immune system and gave him love and comfort (TV also) when he was sick and he always got over it in a few days.

Here is a thread you might want to peruse -

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...6&page=1&pp=20

As long as you and your dh agree that you don't want to take your child to a doctor, or that you don't want to vaccinate your child, there is no problem. It is not considered neglect. The problem is usually generated by a hostile separation or divorce. Unfortunately!

[spero]

Doctors CANNOT require exemptions from you. Exemptions are for schooling and daycare purposes ... you never have to legally justify your non-vax decision to a doctor.

Let this bully know that you are refusing vaccines and will not discuss the issue anymore, period.

[neetling]

Why does it have to be so combative? We just moved and I am exasperated at the idea of having to have the vax convos again. OP you have my sympathy. I stopped well baby visits for our youngest after hearing the ped he saw at his 4 month check up belittling me to another doctor. I was standing at the check out counter making an appt for the 6 mo visit and she was down the hall in another room. I could hear her, I am sure several other people could. I walked back and let her have it. I skipped the rest of his well visits. I don't mind a once a year check up, but the every 2 month thing doesn't work for me.

[Turquesa]

Originally Posted by peainthepod

Finally I told him that we would be coming to him for medical care, not salvation, and he dropped it.

As another PP indicated, many docs hold to a vaccine ideology that becomes a religion in itself, and in every patient they see a potential convert.

[3lilpunkins]

wow, this site is such a blessing.
I like that "convert theory": . Its so sad though that Doctors and the Gov't. think they have the power to control the way we want to raise our kids.I mean they are OUR kids, not theirs. It just gets me mad...
I never knew the exemptions were only for school. My doc. wanted to argue w/ me about ingredients and adverse effects till I meantioned religious exempt. then it turned into, "what's your faith got to do with it?" instead of, "These are perfectly safe, there are only mild side effects"

But, I'll go to this next visit and see how things go this time. If he gets any more jerky, I'll see if medicaid will cover a chriro. and try that route

[grahamsmom98]

Its so sad though that Doctors and the Gov't. think they have the power to control the way we want to raise our kids.I mean they are OUR kids, not theirs. It just gets me mad...
I never knew the exemptions were only for school. My doc. wanted to argue w/ me about ingredients and adverse effects till I meantioned religious exempt. then it turned into, "what's your faith got to do with it?" instead of, "These are perfectly safe, there are only mild side effects"

But, I'll go to this next visit and see how things go this time. If he gets any more jerky, I'll see if medicaid will cover a chriro. and try that route

What, he's not jerky enough NOW?? Why go back to someone you already know is combative??

Remember, the doctor works for you. YOU hired him. If you received rude treatment from another professional, you wouldn't accept it and return to, possibly, be insulted again, would you??

Call and cancel the appointment. There is NO law saying you must take your child to the doctor every two months suring their first year. It is all about those vaccinations!

Grab the Yellow Pages and begin calling other doctors! I would, personally, skip seeing a Ped. Instead, find a naturopath or family practice physician. They fp generally are more open to non-vaxxers and almost all naturopaths are okay with non-vaxxers.

Call them, starting TODAY, and ask them what their policy is on non- or delayed vaccinating scheduling. It will save time for both you and the doctor if you know, in advance, that you won't be bullied or face having to defend your parental decisions!

I am not a believer in chiroprators (no offense to those that use them), so I wouldn't use one as my child's hcp.

And, then, after you have found someone that sounds good to you, make an appointment and tell them, at the time you schedule the appointment, that you will NOT be doing ANY vaccinations at that appoinment. Explain that it is simply a get-to-know-each-other visit to see how you mesh. An exam is fine, but NO SHOTS.

BEFORE you go, research, research, research!!! You checked to find the best carseat you could, right? The best of whatever you need(ed) for your baby. You need to educate yourself on vaccines. Then, and only then, can you really say you have made an informed decision about whether or not you want to proceed with them.

Remember, once they are in the body, they don't come out. You can always delay (no matter what a doctor tells you!).

When you go to the appointment, remind them, before you go back to the exam room, NO SHOTS. If they give you any kind of resistance once you are in the exam room ("Oh, you'll have to discuss that with the doctor", you'll know the tone in their voice), LEAVE. You owe them no explaination other than it appears you and they won't "fit". Be polite, but firm and get out of there.

Trying to discuss (or, argue) vaccines with 99% of the doctors out there is like hitting your head against a brick wall. They will always explain they know more than you and that is the end of the story. I know, we were refused as patients by more than a dozen health care providers before we found one that is wonderful and supportive of what we desire. You CAN find one!

Go back to the Yellow Pages and start calling again. You WILL find the right health care provider, one that wants to work with you, not against you. One that recognizes and acknowledges that YOU are the parent and decision-maker, not them!

Come to this board and ASK, ASK, ASK!! There are so many knowledgeable folks here and they WANT to help!