This week in class, we discussed the idea question of whether or not certain vaccinations should be required. However, presently, many people worry about whether or not the risks of being vaccinated outweigh the risks of not doing so.
In an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (description found here), the death of a young toddler is found to be the cause of measles. The carrier, a young boy, contaminates a public park where many families take their children to play. His mother chose not to have him vaccinated because she feared that the risk or getting the shot would be more harmful to her son than not receiving the shot. Ultimately, she was put on trial for the little girl's death, but found not guilty despite being liable for it. The jury felt that she should have vaccinated her son, but she was acting in the best interest of the child, despite the outcome.
Something like this could undoubtedly happen in real life. I wonder if a fictional jury would be as willing to forgive a parent for not vaccinating their child and endangering others. It's an intriguing idea. Yes, vaccines have side effects, there are risks associate with almost everything. The facts about those risks/side effects usually influence people's decision of what to do about them.
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