To expect the Doctor to respect my wishes?

[loumum3]

I have not vaccinated my youngest child. I have done this after much research and made an informed decision. The Doctor's surgery has phoned me several times now and written requesting I go in for a discussion about this. I haven't got time for a visit to discuss this, nor do I want to so I said if I had to, I could talk about it on the phone....I have had the Doctor on the phone this afternoon grilling me about my choices, really trying to scare me into having the jabs done and trying to make me feel bad. She cannot see my point of view at all and has been very rude.

Is is really too much to expect a Doctor to respect the decisions I make about my own children ?

Has anyone else experienced this ?

I can't understand why everyone is cross with the OP. Surely once discussed with the GP that should be the end of it ? I think the GP should respect his/her wishes even if they disagree.

By the way thesecondcoming do you realise that being immunised does not stop you from getting the disease? Also you are only covered for a few years and how many adults do you know that get the MMR every 5 years?

I am not sure why you have posted really, what do you want people to say "ah poor you the doctor is a meanie"

you have very strong beliefs, and the doctor obviously does too. At least they care about your kids welfare

I have heard very few cases of people being harmed by vaccinations

I do hear of millions of kids dying from the diseases we are lucky to have the change to immunise our kids against

that decides it for me I'm afaid

Look, the decision to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, just like taking any other medicine, is one that involves weighing up risks. What's the risk of contracting the illness? What is the risk that that illness will have long-term or severe effects? What's the risk that the medicine will not work, or will cause side effects, and what's the risk that those side effects will be severe or long lasting?

The OP, like anyone else, is free to make up her own mind on these issues. And once she's explained her choice to her doctor, that should be it. Doctors can advise, they can't force you to have a procedure or treatment. That's the law.

I may make a different choice to the OP. I might disagree with her. But I have no right to force her to do what I do.

The OP clearly says she has read lots on the subject and has family that have had bad vaccine reactions, this is not the same as googling. She also says that 1 GP and 1 HV agree with her and she wants to be left alone now that she has made her decision.

I think that the GP should respect her wishes.

I also think people should research vaccines and how they work, what the ingredients are and then maybe they may be able to see where the OP is coming from instead of jumping on her for daring to be different!

REmember your GP doesn't know what research you have done or how much you know about the vaccinations, so has a responsibility to try and ensure you are fully informed before making a decision; they can't just assume everyone has read up about it.

The Merck leaflet says it lasts 11 years. If you catch it naturally you have lifelong immunity.

"Millions of children dying" these numbers include the 3rd world. They do not show the numbers for children in the UK. There has only been 1 death in years in the UK and that was a child that had heart problems.

secondcoming, the OP suggested her family have a history of bad reactions to vaccines. Occasionally you hear of doctors recommending a child not have a vaccine because of previous very bad reactions, so I wonder if loumum is worrying about that in her family?

Tbh I suspect not (I think she'd have mentioned it by now), but it's perhaps a bit harsh to suggest all she has done is googled and jumped to an ignorant conclusion.

How is the OP taking risks with other peoples health ? How have all of these old people managed to stay alive so long ? I have relatives in their 90's and 100's and they have never had a vaccine in their life - how does a child not having a vaccine risk your childs health ?

Well if Tony Blair didnt get his kids done, I think the OP has a good point

Yes, indeed. Let us all strive to be more like Tony Blair.

Someone also says earlier on about 280,000 dying from tetanus, again, these numbers include the 3rd world ...there have been 2 deaths in the UK and these were both OAP's who may not have been in the best of health anyway?

thesecondcoming - you haven't answered the question: how does a perfectly healthy child that has had no jabs put your child at risk ?

if we are swapping anecdotes here's mine. Having seen ds on a drip in isolation with meningitis, all of my fears about vaccines mysteriously went out the window (he was too young to have had the jab). However, if, hand on heart, the OP has researched properly (and I mean peer reviewed studies) then the GP should reach a point of acceptance, I feel.

aye LittleRedDragon
Let us strive. It's an interesting point though, I wonder how many doctors dont vaccinate, but keep it quiet

'It's ok for the plebs' type of thing

'thesecondcoming - you haven't answered the question: how does a perfectly healthy child that has had no jabs put your child at risk ?'

Tell you what: how about I bring a 'perfectly healthy' child, infect it with measles, and bring him to cough all over your 'perfectly healthy' newborn? Maybe your newborn will get measles, but being so healthy and all, I'm sure the soaring temperature won't be a bother at all ...

...oh wait, high temperatures are very dangerous for babies.

Sorry, I know this sounds like a brutal way to put it, but if non-vaccinated children are allowed to spread illnesses like this through the population, people who are vulnerable already will be very much at risk, and measles would be a very dangerous illness for all babies, even 'perfectly healthy' ones.

I just wish all of the leaflets and info from the medical profession gave the facts clearly and gave details of things that are happening in the UK as clearly 2 deaths is not as scary as 280,000.

Well put Minthumbug

True indeed OldMac, I think that's the reasoning. Though I should say (while we are on anecdotes in place of facts), I know quite a lot of doctors' children and they're all vaccinated. Might be to do with the age I am though.