I have never been fired by anyone or from anything in my life until this past month. A few weeks ago, I received a letter in the mail from my older two children’s pediatrician. In the letter it stated if I did not bring my children up to date in their vaccinations and start vaccinating on The Maryland Healthy Kids Program Schedule they would no longer take care of my children’s medical needs. Yes my very own pediatrician fired me!
I am not the only parent in my area to receive such a letter and have to start the process of finding a new pediatric group who respects my choices as a parent.
My youngest daughter’s pediatrician who is home birth friendly and also known to be non-vaccination and delayed or selective vaccination friendly is even changing her vaccination policies due to state audits and pressure. If you delay or selectively vaccinate your child, she now makes you sign a vaccination form created by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that states I knowingly put my child and others in danger by not vaccinating or delay/selectively vaccinating. As a parent I refuse to sign such a legal document as I disagree with that statement. The form only protects the doctor’s bottom end and not mine as the parent.
I worry about the state of pediatric medial care in my given area. It appears pediatric groups feel the sudden need to flex their medical muscles. I have major issues with this because the people they are firing are NOT only parents who choose not to vaccinate, but they are firing parents who either do a delayed schedule like the Dr. Sears vaccine schedule or those who do not start vaccines until a child is one or two years of age.
This is not a vaccine issue, this is a HUMAN RIGHTS issue. We as parents should have the choice of what is injected or put into our children’s bodies and also when it is injected or given. I personally believe there are too many vaccines given to babies and small young children. I have never felt comfortable giving more than a couple shots at a time to any of my children. It is ludicrous to tell me to give my children EVERY shot they are not caught up on in one shot or you will NOT take care of my children when sick. This is outright bullying and common sense is thrown out the window. According to the suggested vaccine schedule, my daughter Keira is several vaccines behind and there is no way I would inject all vaccines at one time to allow her to remain a patient with her doctor. It is not safe!
I am not saying you should not vaccinate your child because that is a personal choice only a parent can make, but when a “suggested” mandate is being tossed around like it is the law, I have a problem with it. Our rights as parents and individuals are in question and this causes me great stress and it should you too!
I have to question the state of medical affairs in my given state. What is going on behind the scenes that makes it harder and harder for parents like me, who do not follow the recommended schedule and delay or not vaccinate at all, to find a pediatrician who will care for my child? Will there be children out there with no “primary care physician” simply because I refuse to sign a legal document that says I am endangering others and my children?
We should have choices to treat our children medically as we see fit and the pediatrician group who fired me I say “You just lost a patient!”. I refuse to be bullied!
Want more information on what signing that form really means?
Here is a form I have no issue with signing: M.O.M. Forms
Is this medical bullying happening in your area too?
XOXO
Amee
Your doctor has every right to do what he/she knows is right for your children. Please produce one scientific study that shows proof that vaccines are harmful to children. You can’t. There are no scientific articles/studies that show definitive proof. Now look at what is happening today. Measles are coming back. Serious diseases that could have been eradicated but because of moms like you, who refuse to get their children vaccinated, these diseases are making a huge and dangerous come back.
Hi K,
I understand your point of view, but most of my children are vaccinated, but I did a delayed schedule. Because I chose a different schedule or delayed longer than they liked I was fired. It was either do shots when we want or you are gone. I did not comply therefore I was fired. I am not here to argue as this is a subject you could throw arguments at all day, but I will say that I do not agree with your line of thinking.
Amee
My family has moved a couple times in the past 3 years and I can tell you it is a lot easier to find a physician that will allow you to not vaccinate or use delayed vaccination in larger cities. After my first child followed the recommended schedule (being a first time mom I thought Dr knew best)and ended up with developmental issues I read more on vaccines while pregnant with baby number two. I have chosen a delayed schedule. With the first Dr. they were trying to get away with combination vaccines. We then moved to a large city and loved our pediatrician. He was fine with my schedule even told me multiple times that I was doing whats best for her with homemade baby food, cloth diapers, and delayed scheduling and never once pushed flu vaccine. We moved to a more rural area for my husbands job and it has been a huge headache to find a pediatrician that will allow delayed scheduling. We have our first visit today and I had to have a written out schedule of when I wanted what vaccines and dates. If I don’t stick to it or see another physician for any reason we will be dropped as patients. Which is frustrating but they were the only ones my insurance covers that allows this I just hope I don’t see one of those papers to sign that you were talking about. Good job on sticking up for yourself and your children!
Hi Heidi,
You have a good point if you are in a larger city you will have more choices and with that come more doctor’s who practice differently. I think it is crazy how fanatical physicians have to be now days about vx, but I also think there is a lot of pressure on them from local and state governments. Then you add in the insurance issues and the liability part of their business and it becomes a huge mess. Not about patient anymore, but more about covering their bottom lines and ends.
I hope you never have to sign that paper either and I would not do it if I were you. I am looking in to family practice doctors as I have heard they are more vx friendly.
🙂 Amee
My children or not vaccinated nor will they be. The Dr. In the hospital tried to pressure my husband and I into changing our mind. His argument was a joke about god sending a boat out to a guy who was drowning. My husband politely said no. Their pediatrician has yet push it he has asked we have declined. My children are home schooled and have no reason for vaccines. I get stares and hear comments all the time like “can you believe her” I let it roll of my back they are my children and as other people believe they are doing right by their children by vaccinating them I believe I’m doing right by mine. I don’t tell others how to raise their kids. Dr. Shouldn’t be telling us either
Hi Emmy,
I agree doctor’s can suggest, but they should not be able to bully in anything with their patient. Our rights however are slowly slipping away and Americans seem not to care or notice. Amee
This makes me REALLY mad! I took my son to Urgent Care, and they required me to sign a form there that said something similar. I think I need to make up a form for when my son DOES get the ones I think are necessary that says HE takes all responsibility for that shot and any damage it may do to my child. Grrrr!
Hi Angela,
I am sorry they made you feel you had no choice and at an urgent care! I know parents who have tried to have their doctor sign such a form, but honestly a doctor would be insane to sign such a form, especially with how sue happy people are these days. That is why I feel there is a change doctor’s are feeling pressured.
Hugs,
Amee
This is just the beginning, Amee.
In the future, physicians might start testing adult patients to ensure they are following the medication regimine and diets prescribed – because according to the ACA, doctors will not get paid if their patients do not improve. So, doctors will have to start dropping patients who are non-compliant with treatments. They just can’t keep the doors open without some reimbursement for services.
So, yes, you are right, there will be children out there with no “primary care physician” because some parents exercise the right to endanger other children.
This is a right that you have.
I agree that rapidly pumping tons of immunizations in a small body is counter-intuitive; and respect your right to adjust your child’s calendar. Your response indicates that you really feel threatened by the situation, and I am very sorry you are going through that panic.
It’s not just political – the many families who completely deny immunization are choosing to risk the health of other children. That just doesn’t work in a suburban or city environment. Maybe in a rural community where doctors make house calls, it could be less risky.
So, in this regard, I think the public is partly driving the culture, too – why would I take my sick child to a waiting room that tolerates a higher risk of smallpox?
I will switch to a pediatrician who ensures that their waiting room is a low risk.
Afterall, the pediatrician is caring for hundreds of kids. Don’t the pediatrician offices have rights, too?
I hope you find a pediatrician that fits your style and supports you. ~K
Hi Kel,
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I do think doctor’s have rights and I am a little threatened by my experience. What I really do not like is my older children’s doctor group who says either you do XYZ or that is it. There is no room left for common sense or slight deviation. My hubby is a vet and in school he learned you never give a vx to a sick animal. If my children are sick around a well-child visit I would not give a vx, but wait until they were well. With this doctor group even doing that I would get kicked out because it would not be following the MD schedule.
I see your point, but I personally do not think people who do not vaccinate their children or do it on a delayed schedule are risking other children’s health. That is a whole other topic one for which we could debate all day long from both sides of the ball field. I wrote my post because at least in Maryland the State cracked down on everyone it seems from what I have heard from local mommy groups statewide and doctor’s are feeling the pressure from who ever it is.
It is sad that doctors cannot simply practice medicine and have to worry about their vx #’s, the insurance companies, or even being sued for not giving the right care. Our medical in this country is messed up because of greed and politics. It is too bad we could not go back to basics and let people make choices without feeling harassed.
Thanks again for stopping by and you made some very valid point.
:0) Amee
How awful that a parents’ choices would be so descriminated against. I am so on the fence on this issue, and my daughter is currently about 9 months behind on her 12 month vaccinations because I just can’t decide what I want to do about it… my gut says she’ll be fine either way because we come from tough ‘stock’, but it still worries me! I admire anyone who feels confident in this decision (whatever it is), because I don’t!
Hi Samantha,
Choosing not to vaccinate was a really tough choice, but I spent many hour reading, researching, and asking questions. My son Tristan had a very bad reaction the last time got sht at about the age of four. I never put two in two together until that incident. He got very ill and screamed for hours after all shots, but the older he got the more severe.
My daughter Keira was completely fine and had her last shots around age two, but she has never had the MMR and my son only the first shot. His one year shots now looking back had a profound effect on him.
My youngest has had no shots and the more I learn I doubt she will ever het a vaccine.
It is totally your decision, but if your gut is saying wait then do not give them. Wait and read, research, and ask questions. If you are on Facebook a great group is https://www.facebook.com/groups/vaxfriends/?ref=ts. And also I have some great articles pinned on Pinterest you can find them on my Crunchy board https://www.pinterest.com/inspiredhsewife/crunchy/
If you have anymore questions please e-mail me and you are in my prayers.
Amee
Oh, really!? that’s sad to hear!
but you can always find a new doctor, and always believe on what you think is the best, I know your instinct was right!
Hi Maris,
Yes I will find a new doctor! Amee
Good for you for following your instincts! I believe that the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks and I also believe that there is a lot of over-vaccination going on. So much of what happens in the medical community and in our grocery stores only serves the purpose of lining the pockets of pharmaceuticals.
When my daughter was an infant I was working full time. As a result, my milk supply dried up too soon. Cows milk formula gave her a terrible stomach ache and she was allergic to soy. So I followed the advice of many “grandmas” and fed her goats milk. Ooooohhhhh, her doctor was so mad! But guess what? She thrived on it. She is now a healthy, sassy 14 year old. I know I made the right choice by following my own instincts…..
Hi Christine,
Thank you! I firmly believe we mothers are born with an innate gift of knowing what is best for our children. I totally agree with you about the padding of pharmaceuticals pockets it seems now days they make vaccine for any little thing and at what cost. Glad your daughter is a thriving young woman and thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment.
Hugs,
Amee
I wholly respect your choice to delay or avoid completely the vaccination of your kiddos. It’s definitely your right as a parent. I do wonder if it isn’t the doctors you should be blaming though. With so many changes in healthcare laws and insurance for doctors I would venture to say that your doctors are finding a huge amount of pressure from sources above them. It is beyond expensive to be insured as a doctor since our society seems so quick to sue anyone. What if some one said they didn’t want to vaccinate their child and then the child got sick and died of the disease that could have been prevented by the vaccine (slim chance, I know!)? Now that doctor is going to probably lose everything because their insurance will pay (that’s what you pay them for, of course) but the doctor now has more astronomical fees than they ever did before. It’s a vicious cycle. I don’t know your doctor, maybe he/she is just a dirtbag…but I have read your posts and I don’t think you’d be seeing any dirtbag of a doctor. I think it’s more unfortunate that we live in a society that is so quick to place blame that we can’t afford to let people make the choices they want to make for fear of being blamed for a chance unfortunate outcome. There, never commented on your blog…but my family is a family of medical professionals and I have experienced the frustrations of their relationships with patients/insurance companies/government etc.
Hi Jenna,
Thank you for commenting and I went to two very reputable pediatric groups so yes they were not dirt bags at all. I did not mean to come across that way my babies doctor is a nice doctor, but we audited in January and the atmosphere totally changed in her office. It went from very welcoming to hostile all because of exactly what you are describing. Not the dead child, but lawyers got involved and she gets paid by the insurance companies. She would not let me sign the form I have linked or even sign her form under duress with the two lines I did not agree with because she said her lawyer would not let her. It was based on what a lawyer said.
As for the other group no letter was involved either I give every shot at their next visit or I was out
I feel that is a bit harsh and we should be grandfathered in, but it is their choice. I did say this in my blog post: “I have to question the state of medical affairs in my given state. What is going on behind the scenes that makes it harder and harder for parents like me, who do not follow the recommended schedule and delay or not vaccinate at all, to find a pediatrician who will care for my child? Will there be children out there with no “primary care physician” simply because I refuse to sign a legal document that says I am endangering others and my children?”. I am not trying to judge quickly as I have a sister who is a pediatrician and I talked with her at length about this before I even wrote this piece. It is a slippery slop for sure and I know patients are not all perfect, but I am frustrated by the fact that both of my peds in a matter of weeks both out of the blue gave me the boot. (I know I had the choice to sign a form or give all shots at one time)
Something is happening in my state I have no clue what it is, but it is pressure for sure. I want choices plain and simple.
Thanks again for your comment and following my posts I truly appreciate it and the feedback given.
🙂 Amee
Good for you for sticking to your guns! Not enough parents do! I recently found a Dr. in our area that believes in medicine, but also in natural ways, not just giving out medicine. He also told me what vaccines he would and wouldn’t give his own children. This Dr. will have our family as patients, for the rest of our lives.
Hi Katie G,
Thank you! I know it is sad a lot of parents do not and I am one of them when I was in my early parenting years, but after some horrible reactions with vaccines with my son I tend to slow the pace down and do what I feel is right now what some schedule tells me. I am becoming more “crunchy” as they call it because lots of foods can heal you and there are lots of other ways to stay healthy. My youngest has not had any shots yet and she is my healthiest kid ever and my other kids were always in the doctor’s office when they got vaccines on a regular basis and now we only go to the doctor or emergency room for kid related slamming hands in doors, falling and hurting heads, etc. Glad you have a doctor hope I find one like yours soon.
Appreciate the time to take a comment and stop by hope you come back again. Amee
I’m sorry that you were fired from your DR! That is just silly. My daughter is on a delayed schedule, that at first her Dr tried to talk me out of, but I wasn’t backing down and agreed to it since she would have all of them by the time she was in school. Her Dr recently told me how she actually loves this scheduling and wishes she could endorse it but is unable to because its not recommended by the AAP. I asked why they don’t and she said its because too many parents weren’t bringing their kids in for regular checkups and keeping up on vaccines. Well if they can’t even get into school without them I think they would keep up on them. I hope you are able to find the right Dr for your needs.
Hi Timmi,
Thank you! I am bummed because I really loved my youngest daughter’s doctor and she was totally on board with me doing something other than the suggested schedule. She got audited this past January and then had to hired lawyers. It is unfortunate because I think a lot of it has to do with money. Vaccines make doctor’s money, but more importantly well-child visits make doctor’s money and if they do a different schedule like you say then they do not come in as much and doctors do not make as much money.
As for people being up to date for schooling you do NOT have to ever have a vaccine in your body to go to school. You have a right not to vaccinate at all and most schools you sign an exemption form and that is it. At least that is what I have been told by others I know who do not vaccinate or delay/selective vaccinate their children. They lead you to believe you have to have vaccines to go to school and it is simply not true.
Thank you for stopping in and taking the time to comment. I am going to look into a family practice group as I have heard they are also a good fit for parent’s like me. 🙂 Amee