Creating A Great Impression In Court

If you have ever had to attend court in order to prove your innocence, you know how much your appearance and attitude can impact the proceedings. Unfortunately, all too many people misinterpret how they should dress and what they should do in court, which is why I decided to make this blog. This website is all about creating a great impression in court and understanding how to present yourself to the judge and jury. After all, you might be trying to defend your innocence to avoid potential jail time. Check out this blog for great tips that could help you to protect your freedom.

To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate? What Legal Consequences Can Arise If You Don't Vaccinate Your Child?

Law Blog

Parents in the U.S. enjoy a lot of freedom when it comes to how they raise their children. However, there is one parenting trend that is starting to see a legal backlash: the anti-vaccination movement. If you decide not to vaccinate your child, can you end up in legal trouble? Absolutely. In fact, you can find yourself at risk of losing custody of your children or facing criminal charges. This is what you need to know before you make that decision.

Why is choosing not to vaccinate a problem?

Essentially, the prevailing wisdom is that vaccinations are necessary to protect society at large by keeping preventable diseases at bay. While there have long been exemptions allowed for those children who belong to religions that don't permit vaccinations, the majority of children in the U.S. are expected to be vaccinated. You even have to provide proof of the vaccinations in order to enroll your children in school.

The anti-vaccination movement, fueled in large part by a now-discredited study called the Wakefield Paper linking vaccines to autism, has been butting heads with authorities for a while now. Parents are still refusing to get children vaccinated out of fear and authorities are frustrated as outbreaks of diseases like measles (which was once almost eradicated in the U.S.) are on the rise.

Lately, the trend among both scientists and authorities is to view the decision not to vaccinate as both a threat to a stable society and a form of child abuse.

How can you end up in court over not vaccinating your child?

While some countries flat-out arrest parents who refuse to vaccinate, U.S. parents are more likely to face legal trouble after something goes wrong.

If you refuse to get your child medical care and the child gets sick and dies, you could be charged with murder. While (so far) the only parents who have been arrested for murder are those who have refused other medical care, like antibiotics, in addition to the vaccines. However, as more and more voices start to call for the law to come down hard on anti-vaxxers, that could change.

The signs are already there that this is happening. If you take your child to what's known as a "chickenpox party," for example, you can be arrested for child abuse. A chickenpox party allows parents who don't want to vaccinate their children to "naturally" expose their children to the disease. If merely exposing your child to the disease on purpose can get you arrested for child abuse, it stands to reason that you can face more severe charges if your child dies from the exposure to the disease.

You can also be reported for suspected medical neglect or abuse by your family physician if you refuse to vaccinate. Physicians are starting to take a hardline approach toward parents who don't vaccinate. While some just outright refuse to treat children who aren't vaccinated, others will quietly make a call to the local child protective agency. The end result is that you'll find yourself in family court, trying to explain your views to a judge in order to keep your children out of foster care.

While the choice is still legally yours whether or not to vaccinate your child, the potential legal ramifications should be considered while you make up your mind. If you have more questions about your right not to vaccinate your child or the possible legal consequences, consider talking to a family lawyer in your area to learn about the laws of your state and the attitudes of authorities on the issue.

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22 December 2015