...your child's doctor? I have to admit when I had my son a year ago I trusted my child's doctor 100%. I mean he is a doctor. He has my child's best interest in mind...right? And, I have to add that I really do like my son's doctor. He listens, he answers, and he takes the time to always explain things to me when I am freaking out over silly things. Most importantly, he doesn't make me feel stupid when I do ask "silly" questions.
So why am I questioning it now? Well, while I was pregnant I remember reading posts on "baby community" websites from mother's that were very against vaccinations. I didn't really think to much of it at the time. I mean if you have ever been to one of those sites I am sure you know of those "hypochondriac" mothers. You know.. the ones who rushed to the emergency room when they had a finger nail size of feta cheese? So I just thought it was that and moved on.
However, a couple months ago my whole thought process on the subject changed. I decided to take a course this semester on medical/bio ethics. I had NO idea how much it would open my eyes to things in the medical world that most people know NOTHING about.
It turns out that some doctors (and the government) don't feel the need to ALWAYS disclose their research methods. For example, in the late 1940's there was a research done for a nutritional study on pregnant women. The research included injecting over 800 pregnant women with radioactive iron. According to the doctors who performed the experiment, the injections were done to track the iron as it went through the body. According to the lawsuit that was filed by three of the pregnant women about 20 years later, the research was done to see the effect of radiation.
Whatever the reason for the research, the women were unknowingly injected with radioactive materials. The result: three of the children died from rare forms of cancer.
I could go on and on about other experiments like this but my point of this post is NOT to scare anyone half to death. But these things that happened make me question "authority". You would think by now there would be strict laws on this subject. But thats the problem...the "strict" laws do not exist. They don't exist because every-time something like this happens the victims are paid off and the experiment is swept under the rug. So I have serious concerns now. Especially when I see my baby being shot up with five different shots within 60 seconds. Do our children absolutely NEED to be getting all these vaccinations? I didn't get a varicella (chickenpox) vaccination when I was a child. I got it though, and quite frankly I think I would rather get it and have to itch for a couple days than get a vaccination of something that I "think" is totally safe. On the other hand there are some vaccinations that I feel are a necessity. Those diseases that have life or death consequences and are still around to be caught.
I am neither for nor against vaccinations. I am confused, and scared, and I don't know who I should trust. I want to trust doctors especially my son's doctor....but should I? Are we really told all the adverse effects of these vaccinations, or do we just get a less serious summary?
~scared and confused SAHM
If you would like to read more on the radioactive research done on unknowing U.S. citizens here are some articles:
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My textbook for the class is:
Medical Ethics: Accounts of Ground Breaking Cases Ed.6
Gregory E. Pence
