Free to Choose but Liable for the Consequences: Should Non-Vaccinators Be Penalized for the Harm They Do?

Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics

Volumn 40, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 606-611

  Caplan, Arthur L ^a   Hoke, David ^b   Diamond, Nicholas J ^c   Karshenboyem, Viktoriya ^d  

^a NEW YORK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER   (United States)

^b Department of Anesthesiology   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA   (United States)

^d New York office of Kaye Scholer ^*  (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

MEASLES MUMPS RUBELLA VACCINE;

ARTICLE; CRIMINAL LAW; DAY CARE; DISEASE TRANSMISSION; FEMALE; HUMAN; INFANT; LEGAL ASPECT; LEGAL LIABILITY; MALE; MASS IMMUNIZATION; MEASLES; PRESCHOOL CHILD; TREATMENT REFUSAL; UNITED STATES;

CHILD DAY CARE CENTERS; CHILD, PRESCHOOL; CRIMINAL LAW; FEMALE; HUMANS; INFANT; LIABILITY, LEGAL; MALE; MASS VACCINATION; MEASLES; MEASLES-MUMPS-RUBELLA VACCINE; TREATMENT REFUSAL; UNITED STATES;

EID: 84867597907     PISSN: 10731105     EISSN: 1748720X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-720X.2012.00693.x     Document Type: Article

References (25)

1. This scenario is loosely based on fictional Season 10, Episode 19 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
2. D. Jungkind, "Re: Tracing Viruses, " email to David Hoke, March 7, 2011 (emphasis added).
3. CDC NCIRD DVD Inquiry, "FW: 'FW: Tracking Viruses, '" email to David Hoke, March 14, 2011.
4. R. Hunt, "Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Anti-HIV Therapy, " University of South Carolina School of Medicine, available at (last visited June 26, 2012)
5. S. J. Shrag, P. A. Rota, and W. J. Bellini, "Spontaneous Mutation Rate of Measles Virus: Direct Estimation Based on Mutations Conferring Monoclonal Antibody Resistance, "Journal of Virology 73, no. 1 (1999): 51-54.
6. I. Julkunen, I. Davidkin, and C. Oker-Blom, "Methods for Detecting Anti-Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Antibodies, " in J. R. Stephenson and A. Warnes, eds., Diagnostic Virology Protocols ( Totowa : Humana Press, 1998): at 154.
7. Center for Disease Control, Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine Prevention Diseases, Measles Virus Isolation, available at (last visited July 13, 2012).
8. Center for Disease Control, Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine Prevention Diseases, Measles, Laboratory Testing, available at (last visited July 13, 2012).
9. E. Lautenbach, "Hypothetical Measles Question, " email to David Hoke, April 13, 2011;
10. S. P. Teret and J. S. Vernick, "Gambling with the Health of Others, " Michigan Law Review First Impressions 107, no. 110 (2009): 110-113, at 111.
11. John B. v. Superior Ct., 45 Cal. Rptr. 3d 316, 324, 137 P.3d 153, 159 (2006);
12. R.A.P. v. B.J.P., 428 N.W.2d 103, 106 (Minn. Ct. App. 1988)
13. B.N. v. K.K., 312 Md. 135, 141, 528 A.2d 1175, 1178 (1988).
14. Hamil v. Bashline, 481 Pa. 256, 265-66, 392 A.2d 1280, 1284 (1978).
15. John B., 45 Cal. Rptr. 3d at 324, 137 P.3d at 159.
16. Doe v. Johnson, 817 F. Supp. 1382, 1386 (W.D. Mich. 1993).
17. B.N., 528 A.2d at 141-43, 528 A.2d at 1178-79.
18. R. A.P., 428 N.W.2d at 107; Skillings v. Allen, 143 Minn. 323, 326, 173 N.W. 663, 664 (1919).
19. John B., 45 Cal. Rptr. 3d at 324, 137 P.3d at 159 (internal quotation omitted).
20. B.N., 312 Md. at 142, 528 A.2d at 1179.
21. John B., 45 Cal. Rptr. 3d at 324-25, 137 P.3d at 160-61.
22. Smith v. Baker, 20 F. 709 (S.D.N.Y. 1884).
23. Prosser and Keeton on the Torts 266 (William Lloyd Prosser et al. eds., 5th ed. 1984).
24. In re Christien M., 157 Misc. 2d 4, 21-22, 595 N.Y.S. 2d 606, 613 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 1992).
25. Model Penal Code § 202(2)(d) (1981).