Chiropractors and Vaccinations: Ethics is the Real Issue

Abstract

This article traces the historical and philosophical roots of the provaccination and anti-vaccination movements through to the present day, with a focus on the role of chiropractic within those movements. Political, legal, and scientific issues are considered. Attempts to portray the anti-vaccination chiropractors as unscientific extremists, by both orthodox medicine and from within the chiropractic community itself, clouds the informed consent and freedom of choice aspect relating to health care that they espouse, and scapegoats the so-called extremists rather than facing the ethical issues surrounding fully informed consent. The authors conclude that would-be medical ethicists promote their own political agendas that aid profit before safety and breed distrust within the community that is meant to be served in a balanced and ethical manner.

Vaccination discourses among chiropractors, naturopaths and homeopaths: A qualitative content analysis of academic literature and Canadian organizational webpages

“…By extension, critiques of public anti-vaccination views are framed as an attack on individuals’ right to free speech (n = 1). Vernon and Kent [ 56 , p. 43] argue restricting individual rights is only justifiable insofar as noncompliance with a particular regulatory project poses direct harm to others, and that certain vaccine-preventable illnesses are not adequately injurious, widespread or readily transmissible to warrant mandatory vaccination. They explain:…”