Some people who argue against vaccinations claim that vaccine policies infringe on their “rights” — their rights, as parents, to make medical decisions for their children. It’s a scary, misleading, and chilling message. We need to be careful about where one person’s rights end and the next person’s rights begin. We need to remember that children (their children, and your children too) have rights of their own.
For example, Dr. Bob Sears says, “Forced vaccinations for Californians are on their way.” No, Bob. California lawmakers have introduced a bill to eliminate “personal belief exemptions” for public school attendance. No one is going to force any vaccines on anyone, and there are no jackbooted thugs on the way. But if you want to send your child to public school, they’ve got to be vaccinated. There’s still a religious exemption (which is odd — no major religions are against vaccinating) and, of course, a medical exemption. But “personal belief exemptions” shouldn’t hold water, because personal beliefs don’t prevent disease. Vaccines do. You want your kids in public school, with my kids? Then my kids’ right to have a safe school overrides your rights to not vaccinate your child. Simple.
How far do rights go? Until they start to infringe on the rights of others.
Dr. Bob goes on to say that mandatory school vaccines violate “a parent’s right to make all health care decisions for their child.” He seems to agree with statements from a few politicians in the news lately. Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist and Kentucky Senator, says, “The state doesn’t own your children. Parents own the children, and it’s an issue of freedom.”
No, Dr. Paul. Children are not things to be owned. They are not property. They are people, and they have rights too. Do what you want with your own children — anything short of abuse or egregious neglect, and the government won’t interfere. But as soon as your “rights” start to threaten the health of other children, and of our entire communities, that’s where your rights end. And the rights of the rest of us begin.
Roy Benaroch is a pediatrician who blogs at The Pediatric Insider. He is also the author of A Guide to Getting the Best Health Care for Your Child and the creator of The Great Courses’ Medical School for Everyone: Grand Rounds Cases.
