While many medical issues have received significant
consideration, mass vaccination appears to have been largely
neglected by modern biomedical ethicists.
Eighteen
states allow for conscientious parental choice exemptions:
AR, AZ, CA, CO, ID, LA, ME, MI, MN, NM, ND, OH, OK, TX, UT, VT, WA,
AND WI. Only Mississippi and West Virginia have no religious
or philosophical exemptions. However, Mississippi does allow
an automatic exemption for home school students.
Utilitarianism
It's an important concept to understand, because it’s the main justification that vaccine proponents use to promote recommendations and mandates. Utilitarian theory means that the value of a certain rule must be that which secures the greatest benefit for the greatest number. Accordingly, they say, inflicting pain, damage, disease, or death upon some individuals may be justified if, in doing so, the majority benefit....more
One Big Flaw That’s why the evidence against the utilitarian promise of safety, effectiveness and necessity is essential to bring reason into the discussion and formulation of our laws. Individual good cannot be separated legitimately from the good of society precisely because society is nothing more than a congregation of individuals. And, as you may find after your careful study of this subject, there is no conclusive evidence that mandatory vaccination are essential to protect public health, nor are they the least restrictive means to fulfill the State's interest in protecting the public health. Certainly, the most effective deterrent to infectious disease has been the enactment and enforcement of public sanitation laws.
Precedents Ethical principles, already accepted in other areas of health care, can serve as precedents for evaluating mass immunization. These principles are: respect for autonomy (human rights), non-maleficience (no harm), beneficience (benefit), and justice. For instance: During the late 1950's, two anti-nausea medications were distributed to pregnant women; Thalidomide and Benedictine. Both drugs were still distributed even after their adverse effects (limb reduction defects in fetus) were known, thereby violating the principle of non-maleficence.
Crimes of Omission Most of the information available for study on this site is not passed to parents. But everyone who is responsible for the administration of any vaccine has a legal duty of care obligation to warn of all adverse effects that could occur (Rogers vs Whitaker 1992 175 CLR 479). To violate this obligation is to commit common assault.
Where Does It Stop?
What if “authorities” or “officials” decide to mandate an AIDS vaccine? What if they decide that Prozac is the best thing for everyone, or just you? Do we want the government mandating what goes into everyone’s bodies whenever they think it’s in the “public’s best interest?”
Errors in Judgement Unfortunately, the precedent needed for widespread forced drugging with neuroleptics may be set in the case of Charles Thomas Sell, D.D.S., now incarcerated in Springfield, MO (see AAPS News Nov 2001 and Apr 2002). In its amicus brief it states: "… the State may inject mind-altering drugs into a prisoner against his will, based on government testimony.” The panel majority even rejected any limits on the type or quantity of drugs injected, and implicitly allowed drugs that have not been fully tested and approved for the specific purpose. http://www.aapsonline.org/newsletters/may02.htm
Legal loopholes like this, the Feres Doctrine (Executive order 13139) and a few misguided case rulings do exist -- and attempt to obstruct our freedoms from human and constitutional rights abuse.
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Important Statutory Law
Fortunately, we have The Declaration of Independence as the foundational doctrine of our country; it emphasizes "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men were created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. And stemming from this core historical document arises many laws that stand to protect us from harm and injustice.
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2Fortunately, we have The Declaration of Independence as the foundational doctrine of our country; it emphasizes "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men were created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. And stemming from this core historical document arises many laws that stand to protect us from harm and injustice.
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The First Amendment
The First Amendment [of the U.S. Constitution] clearly defines the free exercise of religious beliefs and the moral rights of individuals to obey the judgement of their conscience in matters of life and death. Religious exemption...more
The First Amendment [of the U.S. Constitution] clearly defines the free exercise of religious beliefs and the moral rights of individuals to obey the judgement of their conscience in matters of life and death. Religious exemption statutes simply codify the protections of an individual's right to freely exercise his/her religious belief as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and parallel portions of the state constitutions. These religious exemption statutes have been in place for decades without posing any risk to public health. Faith-based decisions concerning immunizing one's children have consistently been protected by the courts. See Berg v. Glen Cove City School District, 853 F.Supp. 651 (E.D.N.Y. 1994); Sherr v. Northport-East Northport Union Free School District, 672 F. Supp. 81 (E.D.N.Y. 1987).h.
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The Fourth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment to the United State's Constitution protects American's right to privacy. Article IV of the Bill of Rights states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches ...more
The Fourth Amendment to the United State's Constitution protects American's right to privacy. Article IV of the Bill of Rights states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. American citizens are protected from the threat of bodily damage from unwanted chemicals and contaminants under this amendment.
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