I consider myself to be the kind of person who is fairly accepting of other people's points of view. I get that everyone doesn't think exactly the same way I do and I'm okay with that. I don't care if you want to sleep with all five of your children in bed with you, breastfeed till they're 18. I don't care if you voted for Obama, McCain, a chimpanzee, or whatever.
That said, there are a few issues I do feel really passionately about:
1) Vaccination. If you don't vaccinate your kids, you're selfish. You're worried about taking a risk with your precious babies, but the only reason your kids have a chance of escaping horrible disease is because the rest of us comply with vaccinations.
2) Homebirth. I've decided not to argue about this anymore because it's too frustrating, but suffice to say, I can't believe anyone would take that kind of risk with their baby.
3) Gay marriage. It's mind boggling to me that anyone would want to deny rights to two human beings who love each other. I hope one day people look back on this and wonder how people were so intolerant.
4) "Abortion." I can honestly understand why someone would be morally against abortion, especially late term, so that's not something I have a problem with. I put "abortion" in quotes because what I have a problem with is people who are against abortion in cases where it's medically necessary to save the life of the mother. Or against birth control or Plan B. Or against aborting a fetus that is essentially dead, like one with anencephaly.
So yes, I'm pretty judgmental about people who disagree with me on the above issues. But then again, everyone is judgmental about some things, right?
wow, we might be the same person, except for the fact that I can't draw. Good for you having rational beliefs backed by science... oh, and being an open minded person. :)
ReplyDeleteCheers all the way =)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be starting my medical career next year and really wish I had found your blog sooner. I agree with a lot of your posts and find others to be very entertaining.
ReplyDeleteThe vaccination thing always gets to me. I really can't handle people who tell me "they read on the internet that its not safe..."
ReplyDeleteI agree most heartily with vaccinations, to the annoyance of my family. My youngest brother isn't vaccinated, because my mother is dead certain they cause autism. I'm just really really glad that he lives in a place where polio/measles/whatever isn't epidemic. Drives me insane.
ReplyDeleteSo does homebirths, just for the record. People are...(fill in the blank).
About vaccination, I've haven't heard much from parents of unvaccinated kids who subsequently developed disease(s) for which they should have been vaccinated. Any literature or news article?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the vaccination thing. I also feel passionately about gay marriage and abortion, albeit from the opposing side.
ReplyDelete@T-
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/25/us-measles-outbreak_n_866846.html
there has been outbreaks because the herd affect that vaccines strive for are no longer effective because so many people are choosing to "protect their children from autism.."
I agree with you on these 1000%
ReplyDelete@aminspiration
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I enjoyed the concise read. However, I was looking for something more of a story like, for example, "I chose not to vaccinate my kid for measles. Now, Bobby has measles and he has to be treated for measles" or "I chose not to vaccinate my kid for measles. Now Bobby is dead from measles." Horrible person I am, I know. But to see a false scientific study and sensationalized anecdotal accounts do this much damage to vaccination, I just wonder why it hasn't gone the other way around - a sensationalized story about the horrible consequences and regrets of not getting kids vaccinated.
@T: The 1998 Wakefield article (entitled Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children, published in the medical journal Lancet) that purported vaccines caused autism has since been disproven.
ReplyDeleteThis is due to the fact that no other researchers could reproduce his findings over the course of 10 years. Subsequently, this led to investigation into his research and he was found to have used flawed techniques that created positive results linking vaccinations and autism. The integrity of medical research comes from (1) reproducibility: can other researchers produce the same results? and (2) larger population samples generate sturdier statistics and thus conclusions. He was found guilty of ethical violations by the General Medical Council.
More on Wakefield and the retraction here: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/lancet-retracts-wakefield-article/
Unfortunately, the damage was done by the original article published in 1998.
For more information on why it is important to receive vaccinations, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention here: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/faqs-vpd-vac.htm
T: Interesting request. I haven't seen any articles like that. I do know of a lot of kids and adults getting diseases for which there are vaccines, but they were all vaccinated and just had incomplete immunity (or it wore off).
ReplyDeleteOne of my attendings did tell me a story about a kid on the rehab unit whose parents didn't vaccine him against polio and he somehow managed to get it (I think in another country). He was a quadriplegic on a ventilator.
@T again: Sorry, that wasn't what you were looking for, I saw your comment after I had posted mine.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is more social than scientific, or even logical, in some people's opinions. Some people still wholeheartedly believe that vaccination causes autism despite what medical professionals say.
Speaking of vaccines, there's currently a polio outbreak in the part of China that borders Pakistan, where immunization levels aren't high. http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/ten-infected-with-polio-in-china-outbreak/story-e6frfku0-1226144117593
I agree--Polio seems to be the best example of what T is asking for. Vaccination has nearly eradicated the disease, and it persists simply because some don't get vaccinated.
ReplyDeleteAgreed 100%. It's amazing how many people there are that think right down the middle of the road but it's the polarized edges that get all of the attention. If it were interesting to be "normal" I think this world would be a helluva lot better place.
ReplyDeleteI am with you 100% on home births and medically necessary "abortions". I'm a little iffy on #1 and #3 though. I am not passionate about those two issues in either direction.
ReplyDeleteSuFu: I was told I was going to get flamed for this post, but I think the accuracy of your statement is the reason I haven't (yet, at least). These beliefs are all pretty middle of the road. Homebirth advocates seem everywhere on the internet, yet I've never met one person irl who admitted to having one. Most people obviously must vaccinate because schools require it. And again, I've yet to meet one person who felt gays shouldn't have the same rights as heterosexuals.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for #4, what kind of psychopath wouldn't want to save the life of a pregnant woman who's grossly hemorrhaging?
Pry the same people who won't get blood transfusions, won't give their kids with curable leukemia chemo and of course home-school their broad of 12+
ReplyDeleteActually in WA vaccinations are not required to put your kid in school. I wish they were. You are required to inform the school if you choose not to vaccinate your vermin and keep them out if there is an outbreak. Like the Whooping Cough/Pertussis out breaks we have had in Island County the last two years.
ReplyDeleteThis one really burns me, because I live in one of the highest areas of vaccine non-compliance. I don't think you should be allowed to put your kids in school if you don't vaccinate. And most other states will allow it if you use the religion card. Fine that is your religion than educate your own damn kid. But in Washington you don't even have to do that! Pisses me off. Sorry I really go off on this one. The irony is I don't even have children.
http://www.bigfatwhale.com/archives/bfw_530.htm
ReplyDeleteMmm vaccinations.
How anyone is stupid enough to believe vaccines cause autism is beyond me, but then again, with the staggering amount of idiocy that occurs regularly, I am no longer surprised.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%, and I think that it is your right to be judgmental when things like those on your list can save lives. I will never understand people who rant on about how the above is "morally wrong", missing that letting someone who can live a good life die is even worse. Good post.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with all of the above!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way as you do!
ReplyDeleteAgreed
ReplyDeleteI've never met one person irl who admitted to having one.
ReplyDeleteMy sister has had four (all w/o any complications), and my husband's cousin has had two (don't know any details). (These are both examples from the US.)
I expect/hope to have one in the next 2-4 weeks; they're much more the norm here (the Netherlands) than in the US, though I think I'm the only one in my 9-couple-expat-prenatal course that was planning on having one barring contraindication.