Imagine that you have been asked to advise your state Department of Health on a recent measles outbreak. The Department
of Health is sponsoring a new law that would ban non-medical vaccine exemptions (religious or personal belief exemptions) in your
state. You have been asked to provide guidance on the problem of parents/guardians who, for various reasons, refuse to consent to
vaccinations for their children. How do you advise the department to proceed? When, if ever, it is permissible to override parental
consent/permission? Does it make a difference if the refusals are based on the person’s religious belief versus some false belief about
vaccines? Make sure that you use the course readings to support your answer.
Sample Solution