How would you handle this?

[eastkygal]

I was told this happened to a woman in our state. How would you handle this situation? 4 year old gets whooping cough and needs to see a doc. Doc then requires the whole family including the 3 month old infant to get DTaP. Parents refuse, but they call CPS and charge them with child abuse. In this case, the parents complied, but have regretted it deeply. I don't know how I would handle something like this, and would like to prepare myself for what I could do.

[Purple Cat]

I'm a little unclear. Did the parents vaccinate BECAUSE CPS and/or the court ordered them. Or did the parents vaccinate because the ped. threatened to call CPS?

[knowerofnada]

I don't believe that story whatsoever. A parent has a right to refuse vax, period. But fwiw, this is why you ALWAYS play the religion card.

[Gitti]

Vaccines are not a law and CPS can not do anything about it. There must have been some other issues. If anyone calles CPS on you, do NOT let them into the house. No matter how nice they sound. They are looking for other resons to charge you with neglect and can only do that if they come inside to see you and the child. Simply do not let them in. You have that right.

[Ruthla]

Yeah, this story sounds kind of fishy to me. It sounds more like fear-mongering and less like something that actually happened. If it was a true story, there'd be news stories with more information such as the town it occurred in, the doctor's name, exact ages of the children, exact charges made by CPS, etc, even if they didn't release the family's name out of privacy concerns.

[Emmeline II]

That sounds fishy to me to as the "standard of care" is to prescribe antibiotics for the child's contacts not to demand immediate vaccination.

[phathui5]

Not to mention that since the whole family has already been exposed (through the child), it's a little late for vaccination.

[Just1More]

I think the story sounds a little off, too.

BUT...assuming it WERE true...here's what I would do.

1.) Firstly, I'd be sure I really NEEDED to go to the doc for whooping cough.
2.) IF I did go, I wouldn't mention anything more than I was asked (or was important for treatment.) That is...you don't have to say you have 4 more children at home, ya know?
3.) I would, as always, state my religous opposition to vaccination, should the topic compe up.
4.) I would retain a lawyer and wait for the court order to vaccinate, all the while being polite and compiling with every single LEGAL request of CPS.

[Ks Mama]

Originally Posted by knowerofnada

I don't believe that story whatsoever. A parent has a right to refuse vax, period. But fwiw, this is why you ALWAYS play the religion card.

No one has responded yet to my post about declining the required flu vaccine in NJ for my kids in school. We aren't religiously affiliated, and NJ only allows religious or health exemptions. So how would one go about "playing the religion" card w/regards to exempting out of the NJ flu vaccine requirement for school admission?

I am really sorry to hijack this thread, OP. I'm just really curious, because I had a feeling claiming "its against my religion" might be the only way to go for us; but I don't feel comfortable with lying. Thanks.

[peainthepod]

I didn't feel comfortable lying either until it occurred to me that THEY have no problem lying to me about the safety and efficacy of vaccines, and since I feel I shouldn't even NEED to exempt myself from their mandated use, whatever. If someone asks you for information that violates your privacy and freedom, you have no obligation to give them a truthful answer.

"Vaccination violates our religious beliefs" is simple and cannot be proven false. I believe that some states and organizations have challenged parents to "prove" their religious affiliations, but the Supreme Court ruled that such challenges are unconstitutional. You have a legal right to object to vaccines for religious reasons (and should have a basic human right to object to them for any reason you damn well choose, IMO).

[Deborah]

My reasoning is that we all have sincere personal beliefs about our family life, about what constitutes moral behavior, about what we owe to the rest of society, etc.

I think a real core personal belief is protecting our children from harm.

If anyone can find a religion which orders parents to sacrifice their small children for the common good, please let me know. Child sacrifice has been unpopular for a couple thousand years last time I checked. [disclaimer: societies do ask young men and sometimes women to sacrifice their lives for the defense of their nation, but this supposedly involves adults who are responsible for their own bodies.]

So I don't think it is a big stretch to see the flu vaccine (containing mercury and other nasty ingredients, and useless besides) as against your sincere beliefs. Pasting "religion" on top of that is a necessary step due to the stupid way the law is written.

[ktbug]

to answer the OP in the utterly hypothetical, i would handle it by calling my lawyer and the media, refusing CPS entry into my home, and finding a new doctor ASAP.

btw, "i was told ..." stories are generally put out there by people with an agenda to scare you into doing what they want you to do. i wouldn't believe a word of this anecdote without confirming it for myself.