Promised you a post on those subjects, so here goes.
Last week, an on-line acquaintance published a blogpost (to which I am not going to link) with links to some very extreme if not positively extremist views on the issue of vaccination and consent. I'm not going to specifically reply to the content behind the links, but instead will make some broader points.
An American boy of 16 was diagnosed with leukaemia (blood cancer), and was prescribed chemotherapy. That is never pleasant, and the young man was predictably quite sick as a result. When the time came for a second course, his parents refused to give consent for the treatment, saying they would take their child to a herbal therapist instead. The doctors involved in his care took his parents to court and obtained an injunction, forcing them to submit their child for treatment. They have been accused of medical terrorism by some.
A child of 16 is close to adulthood, in my view, and under British law, a child aged 12 or over will normally be consulted on treatment. I agree with the doctors that withholding treatment from a cancer sufferer will severely jeopardise that patient's life. Whether a court order is the way forward I very much doubt. As far as I am aware, forced treatment is possible in cases of mental illness, in cases where danger exists for patient and / or the public at large.
The second point concerns the vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus HPV, which is currently being introduced for young teenage girls. HPV is implicated in the development of cervical cancer, and is sexually transmitted. Quite a few parents baulk at the prospect of their 13-year old being vaccinated against a sexually transmitted disease, fearing it would suggest to their daughter that she is at liberty to have sex without having to fear for the consequences. Although I don't have kids of my own, I feel that it is up to the parents (and schools) to give proper sex education to their children, including the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and what to do to prevent contracting these. They should also advise their daughters how to view the HPV vaccinations.
I don`t know about the case of the young boy not having more chemo so I won`t comment but as far as the vaccinatinations for girls is concerned I do have something to say about it. I think the people who say it will make them more promiscuous are not giving these girls credit for a bit of intelligence. I would have allowed my own daughter to be vaccinated for the sake of her long term health. She was sensible then and I know the vaccination wouldn`t have made the slightest difference to her own moral views.
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Sandra xx