Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2007
Keywords
Ethics; Health law; Patient dismissal; Public health; Vaccination
Abstract
Although immunization is one of the most important health inter- ventions of the 20th century, cases of infectious disease continue to occur. There are parents who refuse immunization for their children, creating a dilemma for the primary care physician who must consider the best interest of the individual child as well as that of the commu- nity. Some physicians, when faced with parents who refuse immuniza- tion on behalf of their children, choose to dismiss these families from their practice. Given the existing shortage of primary care physicians across Canada, this decision to dismiss families based on vaccine refusal has far-reaching implications. The present article explores this issue in the Canadian context from a legal, ethical and public health perspective.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Beth Halperin et al, "When Is It Permissible to Dismiss A Family Who Refuses Vaccines? Legal, Ethical and Public Health Perspectives" (2007) 12:10 Paediatr Child Health 843.
Publication Abbreviation
Paediatr Child Health
