Baby on the run worries doctors (Hep B positive parent refuses to vaccinate)

[depakid]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

DOCTORS fear time is running out to help a baby whose parents have been on the run since Thursday after refusing to have him vaccinated against hepatitis B. The parents, from Croydon Park, have been in hiding since doctors and workers from the Department of Community Services took out a Supreme Court order forcing them to have the baby vaccinated after his birth at Royal Prince Alfred hospital last week.

The baby's Chinese-born mother was diagnosed with hepatitis B several years ago, but both parents refused the vaccination on the grounds its aluminium content could cause more damage than contracting the illness.

DOCS is expected to push for an extension to the court order today. But it could be too late to prevent the baby contracting hepatitis B, a professor in pediatric infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital at Westmead and one of the doctors who contacted the department, David Isaacs, said yesterday.

Under NSW Health policy, babies born to hepatitis-B positive mothers are offered immunoglobulin and three doses of the vaccine within six months. The vaccinations are not compulsory, but can cut by up to 92 per cent a baby's chances of getting hepatitis B, which can cause early death from liver cancer and cirrhosis. Dr Isaacs said doctors were often forced to seek court orders when parents denied their children medical treatment. "We do the same thing if we have a Jehovah's Witness parent who is refusing to allow their child to have a blood transfusion, or a HIV-positive mother who does not agree to her baby being given HIV drugs … We need to look after the child's rights."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/baby-on-run-worries-doctors/2008/08/24/1219516262681.html

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This sort of thing just leaves me speechless....

<Mods: edited headline to make the subject matter clearer>

[Connie_Corleone]

1. The headline needs some work.

I thought the baby was on the lam.

[Kutjara]

2. Me too. I was starting to imagine a dramatic chase...

...involving a pram and cop cars from three counties. "Waaah! You'll never take me alive! Waaaah!"

[2KS2KHonda]

3. I wondered if it had something to do with uncontrolled diarrhea.

;-)

[theoldman]

4. Depends on it's age.

I can just imagine a kid in diapers running down the street with the doctors in pursuit. sometimes we have to choose our words more carefully.

[Hekate]

7. Or in the case of toddlers I have known, totally without diapers. Run, baby, run! LOL

Sorry, I know Hep B is serious, but that headline needs work.

Hekate

[UpInArms]

5. and I was thinking they (the docs) were delivering and dropping them

as they ran from the hospital

:shrug:

[Wizard777]

6. "The vaccinations are not compulsory" my ass! Then why the man er um baby hunt?

Also we can transplant livers. Can they transplant a brain? Heavy metal poisoning can do far more damage than Hep.B especially in quality of life. The last I heard Aluminum poisoning is suspected as a cause of Alzheimer's. Mercury poisoning from vaccines is suspected as a cause of Autism.

[FirstLight]

8. be careful...

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but got seriously attacked here for voicing it. People call us "anti-vacination fundies"

But then again, hep B isn't measles is it?
so I guess people get their panties in a bunch because they think that those of us who don't vac are putting them at risk (though 2/3 of the reported cases are in thos who were vac'd)

A few months back, wasn't there a case where the kids were herded like cattle and the parents arested because they wouldn't vac. This is a great fear of mine - MY body and that of my kids is MY CHOICE... and I don't blame or ask for assistance in health issues that I haven't already taken responsibility for. But I guess that's me being a freak and actually being "informed" about this stuff, applying dietary changes, herbal remedies and trying to help myself first.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kimmerspixelated]

15. "no scientific links that mercury or alum...to any illness?"

Read much? Or, Maybe you're from another planet?

MERCURY IS ONE OF THE MOST TOXIC SUBSTANCES ON EARTH! IT IS NOT SAFE AT ANY LEVEL! PERIOD!

[Wizard777]

11. My doctor says there is a word for people that take health advice from the government. Dead.

[kimmerspixelated]

16. Touche'!

In addition, folks so pro-vaccine should read one of many books,"Death By Modern Medicine"

[Orrex]

19. Really? So he makes up his own guidelines, does he?

You should stop going to that asshole for medical advice, because he sounds like a dangerous quack.

[Wizard777]

28. I'm 76. So he's doing very well. I'm not an easy patient to treat.

[SpookyCat]

13. Source please.

I would very much like to see a reputable source for the 2/3 claim. I'm confident that you have one.



As far as vaccines are concerned, autism cases continue to rise after mercury was removed,

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/93217.php

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22542677/



As far as Alzheimers, the research on that is inconclusive at best,

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=99

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/controversial-claims-risk-factors


It is good to be cautions of what we put in, or allow to be put into our bodies, but it's not good to be so anti science/western medicine that hysteria takes over our brains. Knowledge is the best antidote for fear.

[Orrex]

18. Dietary changes and herbal remedies are great for making parents feel like they're doing something

Beyond that, the benefits are vague and difficult to verify. Also, the benefits cited are generally entirely within the realms of conventional (i.e., actual) medicine.

Additionaly, dietary changes and herbal remedies don't do shit for preventing disease, aside from allegedly providing the nebulous but endlessly-asserted "boost to the immune system" to "help the body heal itself" and all of that touchie-feelie stuff that makes Deepak Chopra and Andrew Weil multi-millionaires.

But then, the "alternative" "medicine" industry is motivated only by the highest ethics, so it's okay for its cheerleaders to make millions, right?


Also, I would likewise be very interested to see where you got that "2/3 of the reported cases" figure. If you can't provide a citation for it, please retract your unsupported claim.

[bitchkitty]

21. What an astounding assertion.

Nutrition makes no difference? You're willfully ignorant - it makes a huge difference what you choose to put into your body.

Andrew Weil went to Harvard Medical School. I think I'd listen to him before I'd listen to someone who doesn't believe that diet affects health.

[Orrex]

24. Like all anti-vaxer lunatics, you misstate my claim

I don't care where Weil went--he still has wacko ideas based in nonsense. If you want to give your money to him and his ilk, you're welcome.


My obvious point re: nutrition was that good nutrition is no substitute for a vaccination. Also, dietary changes and their effects upon improved overall health are well-known in conventional medicine (i.e., actual medicine), so the bullshit notion that this is somehow the territory of anti-vaxers and holistic bead-rattlers is further nonsense.

If you are unable to comprehend this, then I'm sure that Weil et al can expect another big payout from you very soon.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Orrex]

26. Are you or are you not an anti-vaxer?

Even if you are not, then my statement is still correct, because your deliberate misstatement of my position like all anti-vaxers, even if you don't subscribe to that particular brand of idiocy.

Your inability to read a post in context doesn't exactly make you look like a genius, either.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FirstLight]

23. the 2/3 thing was about a measles outbreak in FLA

not Hep B

There were a few threads on this on Friday here at DU, and I got ripped up one side & down the other, even though the cases cited were primarily in kids Who had been Vac'd. So I assert that vaccination is not immunization.

and I am not going to even try to argue this with anyone here anymore, because it is like religion, either you believe in something or you don't. I don't believe in vaccinations. period.

Alternative remedies used in partnership with allopathic medicine can be a best health scenario. I believe that thousands of years of practice (acupuncture, herbals, native indegenous knowledge) compared to a few hundred in western medicine and corporate pharma is an easy choice.

that's all I feel like replying to you. Because I am done being ripped over my beliefs and choices made from a place of my own knowledge and research and practice.

my choice.

[depakid]

9. They're not compulsory because Australians haven't fallen for conspiracy theories

in the same numbers as fundies and hatters in America have.

A DOCS spokeswoman said yesterday the case was extraordinary and staff could not recall ever being required to force parents to vaccinate their child. She said DOCS had ruled out publicly naming the family for fear it would drive them further into hiding.

Sadly, with all misinformnation and anti-vaccination paranoia spread throughout the world wide web, the likelihood is that instances like this will become more common.

[Wizard777]

12. It's not really a conspiracy theory. It just might not be medically sound.

Some people might want more medical assurance from research before allowing a doctor to inject them with anything he draw up into a syringe. Like they were a junkie. It might do the trick. It might kill you too. To me forced vaccinations is case in point sheeple. You can vaccinate your sheep against it's will. But not a person. Thats' basically what they doing. The government is vaccinating the people like they were a flock of sheep.

[depakid]

14. According to some- it's not just a conspiracy- but a WORLDWIDE conspiracy

that involves top medical researchers and public health professionals around the globe!

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) -British and European regulators- they're all in on it too (they've been infiltrated with Bush appointees, like the FDA).

[kimmerspixelated]

17. Well put!

The gov. would like nothing better than for all of us to be comatose so that we can't think for ourselves and make our own educated health choices. They want us to take drugs for non-diseases and to take as many vaccines as they can possibly shove onto us( which in reality actually suppresses the immune system further)-a point they don't really want us to know. Synthetic materials are not meant for the human body. The human body does quite well on it's own when given the proper nutrients,( and is alkalized) of which I now hear the FDA wants to irradiate away!

[Orrex]

20. Including this current discussion, I have never encountered an anti-vaxer who was medically informed

If I have slighted anyone with this assertion, please cite your credentials, and I'll add you as an exception.

Thus far without exception, every person I've met or with whom I've spoken has gotten his entire body of anti-vax information from fringe sources and rabid anti-science websites. How do I know this? Because, when pressed, every one of them has ultimately cited RFK Jr. or Oprah or Wakefield.

Please demonstrate that I am incorrect, because I am weary of having the same discussion again and again with passionate but ill-informed anti-vaxers.

[DavidMS]

22. Of cource it can...

Tetra-ethyl lead is very toxic. Lead soder is much less so. Hep B has an excellent chance of killing you (cancer, liver disease, etc) while heavy metal exposure may or may not be serious depending on what one is exposed to and the amount of exposure.

After much research, Thimerosal is considered safe.

I would strongly recommend that you check your sources of evidence and square them with the presently available scientific evidence. Scientific evidence can't be tested by consulting crystals.

[Violet_Crumble]

29. Any mods reading? Why are these crap threads suddenly being moved down to this forum?

As if I come here to read a bunch of Americans yelling at each other over whether To Vacinnate Or Not To Vaccinate.

[Random_Australian]

30. I agree. Out, ye Demons of Must But In!

whoever posted crap first knew damn well it causes flamewars. (I would call out the people afterward, but I really don't expect a culture of not answering posts to be a good thing)

Edit: Wizard777 gets the privelege this time.