Former Surgeon General
US Navy
Some physicians are starting to decline caring for children whose parents refuse to allow their children to be immunized. I would never refuse to continue to care for a child because a parent made what I thought was an unwise decision regarding their child's health care.
I would document that the parent had been informed about the need for immunizations and refused. I would continue to care for the child and try to help the parents deal with this and other difficult decisions. People do change their minds as they gather more facts. By continuing to provide care and establishing trust and confidence some will change their minds.
When a physician refuses to continue to care for a child because their parents object to a recommended course of care, the parents will be forced to find care somewhere else. Unless they can find a physician with the above attributes, they will default to physicians who focus on episodic illness care and not preventive care and education.
We know the latter provides far better outcomes than the former.
