Should Vaccines Be Mandatory?

Health care is complex and ever changing. What makes perfect sense for one individual may bring deep-seated ethical issues for another individual. With the vast amount of possibilities expanding through research, ethical dilemmas develop and complicate the decisions we need to make for ourselves and loved ones. The varied choices regarding cancer vaccines, fraud and euthanasia will be explored.

Cancer Vaccines

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer demonstrates a parade of polarizing ethical issues of today, but the topic of mandatory cervical cancer vaccines particularly caught my attention. I viewed the video not from the lens of a health care professional, but from the stance of a mother of a beautiful two year old little girl. As is the way of many parents, I am fiercely protective and want nothing short of the best for my daughter. Deciding what is best when it comes to mandatory vaccinations for cervical cancer is an issue being faced by parents of preteen girls all across the United States. Consequently, the commentary details the statistics behind human papillomavirus (HPV) and the correlating numbers leading to cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The debate comes in whether or not the vaccine should be mandatory. On one hand, as a parent, I do not like being told that my child must have the vaccine. This is a clear violation of her autonomy. On the other hand, I think of the benefit to my daughter if the majority of her peers were covered by the vaccine, ultimately protecting her via herd immunity. This is, in short, a kind of social justice (Morrison, 2010). As for as how I will address this issue with my daughter, I feel the only ethical thing to do is to implement a kind of informed consent. Although legall...

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the health care industry is discovering new technology and compounding choices with each passing year. The decisions of the current health care consumer are complex and a very personal choice. For example, cancer vaccines for HPV bring the dilemma of vaccinating minors who should have autonomy. In addition, fraud in business is muddying the waters of the health care industry, in addition to complex topics such as euthanasia. Finally, as the landscape of healthcare continues to develop, the decisions of a well informed patient and competent patient should be honored.

Works Cited

Morrison, E. (2010). Ethics in health administration: a practical approach for decision makers. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Morrison, E., & Furling, E. (2014). Health Care Ethics: Critical Issues for the 21st Century. Jones & Bartlett Learning.