Originally posted in medical ethics discussion forum, amednews.com
Scenario: Should physicians be vaccinated against highly transmissible viral illness?
Physicians are among those refusing to get vaccinations. With the variety of institutional policies and legal decisions in force around the country, it’s a serious matter. The American Medical Association Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs has written an opinion on the ethics of physician vaccination, urging that it be viewed as a priority and a duty, with very few exceptions. A member of the council provides a brief history of vaccination and explains the rationale for the opinion.
[Note from SaneVax: At one point, the author of the answer to this question went so far as to suggest doctors who refuse vaccination should be removed from their patient care responsibilities. Considering that cleanliness is the ultimate prevention for most communicable diseases, this is nothing short of holding a family hostage to the whims of pharmaceutical companies. This is the United States of America – no one’s job should be threatened because they refuse to try the latest miracle cure. This is especially true of those who are providing medical care to the sick and injured.]
Leave a Reply