Professional bodies in many jurisdictions have made it clear to health professionals that they have a professional duty to promote evidence to dispel anti-vax messages.
In May, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority, along with 16 national health boards, released a statement warning practitioners that they had a responsibility to the public to promote evidence that vaccines are safe and effective. Spreading anti-vax messages could result in disciplinary action for any health professional.
The Society has had a long-standing policy not to provide representation, assistance or legal services to any member with an employment or professional disciplinary problem arising from an ‘anti-vaccination stance or action’. This includes, but is not limited to, disseminating or promoting anti-vaccination information and/or refusing to provide vaccination services to clients in line with best practice.
This is not a freedom of expression issue. Rather, it is a matter of adhering to evidence-based practice, meeting ethical obligations and displaying sound professional judgement. Additionally, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find any reasonable grounds or mitigating factors to successfully defend such misconduct (action or omission).
A clear decision needs to be made between providing appropriate information about side effects, risks and benefits for informed consent purposes versus perpetuating anti-vaccination propaganda. Great care needs to be taken however, when doing the former, to avoid giving credence to the latter.
Professional bodies in many jurisdictions have made it clear to health professionals that they have a professional duty to promote evidence to dispel anti-vax messages.
In May, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority, along with 16 national health boards, released a statement warning practitioners that they had a responsibility to the public to promote evidence that vaccines are safe and effective. Spreading anti-vax messages could result in disciplinary action for any health professional.
The Society has had a long-standing policy not to provide representation, assistance or legal services to any member with an employment or professional disciplinary problem arising from an ‘anti-vaccination stance or action’. This includes, but is not limited to, disseminating or promoting anti-vaccination information and/or refusing to provide vaccination services to clients in line with best practice.
This is not a freedom of expression issue. Rather, it is a matter of adhering to evidence-based practice, meeting ethical obligations and displaying sound professional judgement. Additionally, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find any reasonable grounds or mitigating factors to successfully defend such misconduct (action or omission).
A clear decision needs to be made between providing appropriate information about side effects, risks and benefits for informed consent purposes versus perpetuating anti-vaccination propaganda. Great care needs to be taken however, when doing the former, to avoid giving credence to the latter.