[Answered]: A Right to Be Wrong

A Right to Be Wrong? A mother brings her two-year-old daughter into the clinic. In your review of her case history you see that the child has received no immunizations. The mother tells you that she believes that vaccines weaken the immune system and that she heard in the news that vaccinations are associated with the increased incidence of autism. You know that it is still being reported in entertainment celebrity news, but the autism connection research has been debunked in scientific literature. What is your role as a health care provider in this situation? Religious beliefs are protected by the Constitution, but can parents refuse to vaccinate their children based on unfounded fears? Should these unvaccinated children be allowed in public schools? Should we adopt an “everybody” requirement policy like Cubu, for the sake of public health?