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A webpage maintained by CDC provides so-called “guidance” to doctors on how to “best” discuss childhood vaccinations with parents. In its current state, the webpage prioritizes “maintaining high vaccination rates” over informed consent and patient-centered care. ICAN has therefore urged CDC Director Erica Schwartz to revise it immediately.
The CDC webpage “Talking with Parents about Vaccines” encourages healthcare providers to use pre-selected language that aims to persuade parents to vaccinate their children instead of language that helps parents exercise their autonomy and arrive at their own informed choice. The webpage’s clear bias towards vaccination over informed consent and parental choice could not be any clearer:
It’s exactly this kind of presumptive language and attitude towards vaccination that has undoubtedly contributed to only 40% of Americans trusting in physicians and hospitals. Rebuilding such trust will require a fundamental shift in attitude—one where doctors empower parents to make the most informed decision they can for their children’s health and well-being, and then respect that decision.
ICAN sent a revised version of the webpage text detailing the changes that should be made in order to emphasize informed consent and respect the questions, values, and autonomous decisions of parents and legal guardians.
Let’s hope Dr. Schwartz’s stated commitment to “radical transparency” extends to the patient communication protocols her agency recommends.
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