So, will a court force a nurse to give the jabs?

[Pseudonym99]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24493422

Who in their right mind would actually give the girls vaccinations against their wishes? Sounds like the judge ruled in favour of the father just to appease him, knowing full well no HCP would risk their registration or being charged with assault by assaulting the girls?

[DropYourSword]

No way I'd inject them without parental consent. So it would depend on who took then for their vaccinations. I think for children it's not really them that gives consent, but their responsible adult so unfortunately their wishes probably don't count for much. I guess not too many children would actively agree to an injection!

However, this just makes a mockery of the ability to accept or decline treatment and removes the point of gaining consent. If the court is saying the benefits outweigh the risk I wonder how come that's not the stance for EVERY child. Or will we get to the point where all children are vaccinated regards of parents wishes. Scary nanny state stuff!

[sandiy]

I would never ever inject a child of that age against their will.Nor would any Hcp I know.

[hiddenhome]

I'm a nurse and I wouldn't inject someone against their will. Let the father or the judge do it

[Pseudonym99]

Of course, if you have one parent's consent you can give treatment, but if you are aware that somebody else with parental responsibility objects, then you cannot give treatment without a court order. Which is probably what has happened here. But if the children object, then surely it would be assault to treat them, even with a court order? Which is what I reckon the judge is relying on?

[5madthings]

No they won't, my ds1 is 14 and had a vacci action recently, the nurse got consent from him and said she wouldn't do it if he didn't consent despite sayign we wanted it done. He did consent but the nurse made it clear she woulstn do it off he and not.

[VivaLeThrustBadger]

Yep, no way I'd inject them no matter what the court said. Not if the girls were telling me not to.

[TheCrackFox]

I am a huge fan of vaccinations generally.

Having said that I think it is utterly wrong forcing an 11yr old and a 15yr old into having vaccinations that they do not want. Seems abusive to me.

[TonytheFish]

I would not inject them.

I always get consent before I even put a BP cuff on a person.....

Any HCP would be on pretty shaky ground to actually inject these children against their express wishes!

[lalalonglegs]

I wonder what their objections are though. I'm not a HCP so don't know about the ethics involved but I think it's in their best interests to be immunised and I'd be sorely tempted to vaccinate if they were spouting a load of ill-informed mumbo-jumbo about it. I understand if they writhe about it would be extremely difficult but, unless they have done lots of independent research into the subject, I don't think parroting their mother's opinion should stand in the way of their being protected against contagious (and potentially nasty) diseases.

[Mim78]

I suppose these kids are old enough to have their views taken into account.

But on the other hand the father is clearly right, isn'T he? Surely it is in their best interests to have the jab as the mmr scares have been discredited?

[hettienne]

If the children refuse, then what is going to happen? Police coming in to hold them down? I can't see the GP or practice nurses agree to hold down a 15 year old to force them to have an injection.

[NiceTabard]

This is what I said to DH when the judgement came out. How exactly are they planning on achieving that, given the girls don't want it and may well physically fight. Are they going to get a couple of people to hold them down while it is done? That sounds just fine

[Mim78]

They are probably just hoping girls will go along with it.