This section defines the meaning and importance of vaccination and immunization for the children’s and human body. It also states the different aspects of vaccination and immunization in children’s from medical point of view. This part further includes the structure of the paper.
Vaccines play most important role in reducing the infection among the population, as they are considered as important weapon for fighting against the diseases such as because of the vaccination programs various diseases are eliminated and it is difficult to find these diseases in the children like smallpox, polio palsy, diphtheria complications, or death and brain damage from measles. This can be understood through example, 1 in every 200 polio infections result in irreversible paralysis, and from these paralyzed children’s almost 5-10% are died when their breathing muscles become immobilized. There is no medicine for polio, and it can only be prevented (World Health Organization, 2013). One more example is there, diphtheria vaccinations is very important for patients because even with treatment, almost 1 out of 10 diphtheria patients dies because of the airway blockage, myocarditis, or severe pneumonia with respiratory failure (World Health Organization, 2014). It must be noted that the most important measure which prevent the infectious diseases is the vaccination and immunization. It is very important for boosting the immunity system of the human body by motivating the body to generate antibodies for fighting with different diseases. Vaccination is considered as deferral of weakened live or it finishes the microorganisms which are administered for the purpose of boosting immunity. Immunization movement of the childhood witnessed highly success from last few years (Pollard, 2007). However, public shows their concerns over the safety and accuracy of the vaccines and ask number of questions in this context.
Vaccination protects the children from serious illness and it is more important in case of children’s, as vaccine protect the children’s from different diseases such as paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death. It is the right of every child to get best standard of health and vaccinations so that they get protection from various infectious diseases. However, in some cases parents refuse to get their children’s vaccinated because of different believes they hold (Vaccine Information, n.d.). This paper discusses the question “Should parents have a right to refuse vaccination and immunization of their children? Discuss this position from an ethical and legal perspective”. Structure of this report includes ethical & legal perspective related to medical practice, Parent’s right related to their children’s vaccination, child’s right to health services, and solutions and guidelines adopted to resolve this issue. Lastly, paper is concluded with brief conclusion which highlights all the key points of this report.
Medical ethics is considered as a framework of moral principles which apply ethical values and standards in context of medical practice. Medical ethics is mainly based on the values and standards that medical professionals must follow while practicing and used as guide in those cases which result in confusion. These values also include the respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice (Furler & Palmer, 2010). These values allowed the medical practitioners and care providers to create a treatment plan and ensure best services to their patients and community. This section defines the ethical values and ethical standards conducted in the medical practice, and it also correlate the different ethical theories with the practices conducted in medical profession such as Utilitarianism, Deontology, virtue ethics, autonomy, Non-Maleficence, Beneficence, and justice. This section also states the ethical code of conduct for medical practitioners and basic principles of medical ethics. As stated by Bayer (2007), ethics are considered as set of principles, rules, values or ideologies guiding which mainly provide the guidance to the particular group of people. Medical ethics includes the application of moral values and codes to the practice of medical by the professionals of medical field. Ethics in context of medical field guide the medical practitioners in context of legal and ethical issues which they encounter while performing their duties (BMA, 2018). Medical profession is considered as the most honest profession and various authorities set the ethical code of conduct for medical professionals. In case of children’s and young people, following are the basic principles set by the UK:
Various theories of ethics deal with the medical profession and relationship between them are stated below:
This theory is normative in nature and considers the right and wrong on the basis of the consequences of the action, which means if consequences of the action are better as compared to bad then action is good. This theory does not consider the intention of the person who is conducted the action, but it only analyze the result of the action conducted by the person which means if result of the action is more good as compared to the bad then such action is right and if result of the action is more bad as compared to good then such action is wrong. It is necessary to understand that basic principle related to public health is utilitarianism (Holland , 2007). This happen because the main aim of ensuring public health is the advantage it provided to the people by ensuring protection and promotion of their general health and happiness.
This theory mainly focuses on the rightness and wrongness of the action itself, instead of rightness and wrongness of the consequence of the action. As stead by kant, action is considered as right action if obliged the moral rules (Bredeson, 2012). In this author focus on the duty of the person which means if person fulfills the duty then such person is conducting right action and if person does not fulfill the right action then such action is wrong, and result of the fulfillment of duty does not considered. This theory is considered as the ethics of duty in which morality of the action depends on the nature of the action. Decision related to the deontology considered as appropriate theory from individual point of view but it does not produce good results for the society. It must be noted that relationship between doctor and patient is by nature, and this tradition is recognized by the medical teaching practice and whenever this theory is breached it is considered as the medical negligence arises (Mandal, ponnambath, Parija, 2016).
Virtue ethics is considered as the approach to ethics that mainly consider the character of individual as the most important factor of the ethical thinking, instead of the acts themselves or their results. This theory based on the temperament of the person (Brenkert & Beauchamp, 2010). Virtue ethics is considered as important source of public health as it is mainly used for the purpose of justifying the initiatives taken by the health policies (Holland, 2007).
There are number of authors who stated that ethical nature in context of medical practices is completely against the principles defined by Non-maleficence, Autonomy, Justice and Beneficence (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). All these factors mainly introduce the framework for purpose of defining principles of medical ethics.
Autonomy is considered as the ability to determine self-rules which are completely free from the limitations or interference of other person. This factor stated that person follow its own rules no matter whether he/she is aware about the consequences of their decisions or not. In context of children’s health they are not able take their own decisions because of the lack of capability on the grounds of their age. It must be noted that adults are capable to take their own decisions related to healthcare and their children’s health. In number of cases, it is considered that the parents stand in the best position to determine the rights of their child’s. In some cases conflicts between what a physicians would consider in the best interest of the child and what parents believes (Parsapoor, Parsapoor & Razaei, 2014).
Essence related to this principle is that any person cannot cause harm to the patients intentionally, which means duty is imposed on medical practitioners to ensure that they never use any such treatment which injured their patients purposefully (Dickenson, 2010). This principle is included in the code of conduct of medical practitioners. The duy of doctors related to this principle does not stop at the duty of of not causing any harm to the patients but also under duty not to impose any risks of potential harm to the patient. However, these rights are not abssolute in nature and is subject to the balance of harm and also the benefits of the treatment in question (Sundean, 2013).
This principle defines the action of mercy, kindness, humanity. In other words, acting in such manner which results in good for others and it is considered as the moral duty of the person to act in the best interest of another person. This principle provides guidance to the person to achieve the interest of other person and in lieu of medical practice achieve best health for their patients. This principle imposed duty on all the medical practitioners to do right thing for their patients and act in the best interest of their patients. This challenge lies in balancing the rights of the patients for the purpose of making their own decisions and remain autonomous, and obligations of the medical practitioners to perform their duties (UCSF, n.d.).
As per this principle, equals must be treated equal and unequal must be treated unequally. It must be noted that it is very difficult and there is no criteria to determine whether two individuals are equal or unequal. In context of medical profession, there must be equal treatment for all the patients. In other words, distribution of resources in context of healthcare must be similar (Alzheimer Europe, n.d.).
Vaccination of children is considered as the prophylactic intervention in the healthy children, and this is considered as biggest reason of parents to oppose the vaccination of their children. Vaccination of children’s in UK is not compulsory and this provision has documented side effects. Although parents have duty to act in the best interest of their children, and it is seemed that they repeat their autonomy if they made choice not to vaccinate. In general situations, vaccinate is not enforced if both the parents agreed. However, Court possesses the power to intervene if parents do not agree. From the point of view of medical practitioners, in these cases favoring the vaccination are considered as offset potential, emotional and parenting factors. Generally, parents oppose the vaccination in context of negative effects of the vaccination. It is necessary to establish the assessment of competence for the purpose of ensuring the potential risk of both non-vaccination and vaccination in terms of child’s health (wearmouth, 2014). Following are the Acts which define the legal provisions related to the child’s vaccination and immunization:
Government of UK takes various actions in promoting the vaccination and immunization of Children’s for the purpose of ensuring protection to the children’s from infectious diseases. UK adopt the concept of working together to safeguard the children’s, and with this intention government provide national framework within which all the local and national agencies and professionals agree to work together in their own ways for the purpose of safeguarding and promote the welfare of their children. This can be understood through example, concept of working together to safeguard the children’s, was introduced by the government and in this government of UK intends to provide national framework within which all the local and national agencies and professionals agree to work together in their own ways for the purpose of safeguarding and promote the welfare of their children such as section 10 of the Children Act 2004 states that each local authority must make necessary arrangements for the purpose of promoting the co-operation between the authority and their relevant partners, and also with the other bodies for working with the children in the area which fall under the authority of local bodies (Children Act 2004). Arrangements made by local bodies must be of such nature as they ensure the children’s well-being in the area of authority. Arrangements made by local bodies must be of such nature as they ensure the children’s well-being in the area of authority. This section defines the legal guidelines related to the medical practice, and it also states the relevant act and related provisions for the children’s health and rights. This part also defines the vaccination and immunization management in UK.
Almost 3 decades ago, WHO prescribed the option of vaccination and immunization for the purpose of controlling the diseases among the students such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, tetanus, and measles (WHO, 2005). As per this prescription of the WHO, at least 95% of the children in the world should be vaccinated. This part of the paper defines the right of the parents on their children’s, and what rights parents have in context of private life and family (UNICEF, 2017). As stated above, parents possess the power to refuse the vaccination of their child. However, court also possesses power to intervene in this right of parents. In case law C v A (A Minor) [2011] EWHC 4033 (Fam), Court stated that concerned children must receive immunization against the wish of other mother because it was appropriate to age and also in context of medical practitioner recommendation. In context of mother’s right under Article 8 of the ECHR, it is necessary to balance this right against article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which provide right to the child to get highest attainable standard of health. This article also imposes obligations on parties and state to ensure complete implementation of this right which also includes taking necessary measures to deal with the diseases.
It must be noted that there is immense decrease in the number of vaccinated children’s because of the strong anti-vaccination lobby, lack of doctor’s responsibility, and lack of awareness among the parents in this context. Immunization is considered as the most important and most effective measure of preventing diseases at primary stage. If children’s get the vaccination at initial stage then it is very helpful to prevent the infectious diseases, complications, hospital treatment and deaths (English, 2017; NHS, n.d.).
Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child provide right to the child to get highest attainable standard of health. As per this Article, Children’s have right to get good quality of healthcare and also the best possible healthcare such as safe water for drinking, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay healthy. In other words, vaccination is the basic right of children because it helps the children’s to fight against the infectious diseases (UNICEF, 2018). In UK, vaccination and immunization is optional, but generally health visitors appointed by government visits the once home for the purpose of giving advice on the issues related to the vaccination. In actual, the Vaccination Act of 1853, had made the vaccination mandatory for the children’s below than 3 months in context of smallpox, and those parents who fail to comply with this mandatory requirement were subject to fine and imprisonment. In this context, government also made amendment in the period of 1867, and as per this amendment children’s below 14 months must get vaccination on mandatory basis and also include penalties in case of non-compliance. Subsequently, on more amendment is made under the law and as per this amendment parents must get right to object the vaccination of their children’s if they feel that vaccination is not safe for their children (vaccination Act 1853). This happens because of the distrust of the public in the intervention made by the government on the children’s healthcare.
In UK, vaccination and immunization is optional, but generally health visitors appointed by government visits the once home for the purpose of giving advice on the issues related to the vaccination. This happens because of the distrust of the public in the intervention made by the government on the children’s healthcare. This section defines the rights provided by government and other regulatory bodies to the children’s in context of health services. In this we discuss whether children’s have right related to the higher standard of health.
From ethical point of view also, children’s hold right to get best healthcare services. Compulsory vaccination includes the principles of the utilitarianism and deontology theory which mainly promotes the goods and happiness of the society as a whole. Additionally, it also reflect the element of beneficence and justice to the society by conducting their actions in such manner as it ensures best interest of the children in the society. However, issue related to the compulsion vaccination in context of ethics is that it breach the provisions related to the autonomy or self-determination. As stated above, children’s are not able to decide their good and bad and not able to give their consent about vaccination, and at this time responsibilities of the parent’s come to play. While exercising their autonomy, parents can decide whether their children need vaccination or not. But this right of parent’s seems breach of right provided to child (Barbacariu, 2014).
This part of the paper provides different solutions from ethical and legal perspective to resolve this issue such as government must initiate programs under which health official aware the parents about the importance of vaccines for their children’s health (Bower, Gask, May, Mead 2001), programs which ensure that each and every child in the UK get vaccination for preventing the infectious diseases, government must introduce framework which ensure mandatory vaccination for different diseases.
There are number of measures which can be used by the government for the purpose of resolving the conflict between child right to get best health care and parent right to refuse the vaccination of their child:
Conclusion:
Conclusion includes all the ethical and legal perspectives related to the medical practice which are discussed in the file. In other words, it includes both key points of this paper and also necessary recommendations for the readers. This paper discusses the rights of the parents in the healthcare decisions of their children and also the rights of the government to interfere in the healthcare matter of children’s reside in UK. This paper mainly describes the rights of the children’s in lieu of getting highest standard of health care services. It also states the different aspects of vaccination and immunization in children’s from medical point of view. After considering the above facts, it can be said that most important measure which prevent the infectious diseases is the vaccination and immunization. It is very important for boosting the immunity system of the human body by motivating the body to generate antibodies for fighting with different diseases. However, in some cases parents refuse the vaccination because of their different believes and this give rise to different issues. Vaccination protects the children from serious illness and it is more important in case of children’s, as vaccine protect the children’s from different diseases such as paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death. It is the right of every child to get best standard of health and vaccinations so that they get protection from various infectious diseases. Right to get vaccination is the right of every children and balance between these conflicts is necessary. It can be sad that both legal and ethical perspectives give rights to children to get best healthcare services. Compulsory vaccination includes the principles of the utilitarianism and deontology theory which mainly promotes the goods and happiness of the society as a whole. It also reflects the element of beneficence and justice to the society by conducting their actions in such manner as it ensures best interest of the children in the society.
The main aim of ensuring public health is the advantage it provided to the people by ensuring protection and promotion of their general health and happiness. It must be noted that relationship between doctor and patient is by nature, and this tradition is recognized by the medical teaching practice and whenever this theory is breached it is considered as the medical negligence arises.
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