Should parents of children who die from curable measles be held liable?

Question

Should Trump and RFK?

SexyPulse · Accepted Answer

This is a really tough and emotionally charged question, and it touches on public health, personal responsibility, and the role of the state in protecting its citizens.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be prevented by a simple and safe vaccine. When a child dies from measles, especially if it was a curable disease like this, it can feel like an awful tragedy—both personally for the family and on a societal level because it could have been prevented with vaccination. However, holding parents legally liable for a child's death from a preventable disease like measles is a complex and controversial issue.

Here are a few things to consider:

1. Parental Autonomy vs. Public Health Responsibility
Parents generally have the right to make decisions for their children, including decisions about healthcare. However, when those decisions put the child—and others—at risk, it raises ethical and legal concerns. If parents actively refuse vaccination despite clear evidence of its safety and efficacy, some argue they should bear some responsibility for the consequences.
On the other hand, many argue that parents should not face legal penalties for personal choices, especially when the decision may be influenced by misinformation or deeply held beliefs. It’s a fine line between personal autonomy and the collective responsibility to protect public health.
2. Vaccination Misinformation
The rise of vaccine misinformation, fueled by social media, has made some parents hesitant or outright opposed to vaccines. In such cases, the issue isn't necessarily that parents are neglecting their child's health maliciously, but that they may be misinformed about the dangers of vaccines and the benefits they provide.
It’s crucial to distinguish between parents who are genuinely ignorant or misled (e. g., by anti-vaccine propaganda) and those who deliberately choose to ignore medical advice. Education and access to accurate information should be prioritized as a solution to the problem of vaccine hesitancy.
3. Public Health and Legal Precedents
From a public health perspective, mandatory vaccinations have been enforced for decades in many countries to control the spread of diseases like measles. Some countries even have laws that impose penalties on parents who fail to vaccinate their children, especially if their failure leads to outbreaks.
However, holding parents criminally liable for their child's death from a preventable disease is unprecedented and would raise serious legal, ethical, and practical concerns. It would also be difficult to determine how such liability should be assigned—should it only apply to cases where parents intentionally refuse vaccination, or would it extend to cases where parents simply did not prioritize it?
4. Liability in Context
In cases where negligence or reckless disregard for a child's well-being is involved (e. g., if a parent explicitly refused a vaccine for ideological reasons despite all medical advice), it could be argued that the parent should face some legal consequence, perhaps in the form of civil liability rather than criminal punishment.
That being said, public health law generally focuses on preventing harm rather than retroactively assigning blame after a tragedy. Public health campaigns are often more about educating parents and increasing access to vaccines, rather than punishing individuals.
5. Role of Government and Society
If a parent refuses a measles vaccine, society and the government may feel a responsibility to intervene—not necessarily through punishment, but by ensuring access to accurate information and perhaps offering easier access to vaccinations.
In the end, it’s not about assigning blame to parents who may have been misled or misinformed, but about addressing the root causes of vaccine hesitancy and improving public trust in vaccines. Instead of focusing on liability, the priority might better be placed on education, addressing misinformation, and making vaccines more accessible.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

That is on Trump picking RFK.

MisterWack · Accepted Answer

Measles just peaked since it last did in 2019, this isn’t like it fell out of the sky for God’s sake. My Goodness Where Did It Come From?

It came from the misinformation and conspiracy theories pushed onto parents which made them feel unsafe and insecure about their child’s needs. Measles vaccinations in preschool, elementary school, middle school helped uplift the communities of this beautiful strong free nation to combat Measles outbreaks to where they weren’t an issue.

I’ve seen a trend of politicians tapping into ‘reactionary’ & ‘fear’ cultures of American life promising solutions to problems they themselves manufacture to their base. Leading to doing away with vaccine mandates and allowing Measles to get out of hand.

Parents should be held accountable for hurting their child if and when they die from a preventable disease like Measles that once spreads will get out of control among children populations. This is despicable and we must not stand for it.

I will add a historical fact, General George Washington when he was getting colony citizens to join the fight against The British Regiments made his soldiers get mandatory SmallPox Vaccinations (the kind where you cut the skin and put Cowpox in).

Another fact, SmallPox is wiped out thanks to WHO efforts in India knocking on doors, supplying vaccinations to family members, and never stopping for a moment. Godspeed Science!

Zack-Bann · Accepted Answer

Honestly any form of child endangerment should be met with an expedited trial and death by firing squad
Even today in 2025

And that goes for parents who impose veganism onto their children as well because it’s just as unhealthy as denying them vaccinations

We have evolved to the point of being dependent on chemicals to survive
It is what it is

No one couple should be allowed to raise their noses and say: I want my kids to grow up natural
Fact is the world is no longer natural

Kids should be protected not martyred for principles

SeekerOfTruth007 · Answer

It's against the Bible to refuse quarantine or medical treatment. About 1/3rd of the Book of Leviticus is actually medical law, including the proof that microbes cause disease and the proof that quarantine and purging with fire and boiling water kills disease.

So called "christians" who refuse vaccines and other medical treatments are actually teaching and believing a heretical doctrine and they should be punished for endangering other people and for disobeying the laws of the their own religion.

DrPepper12 · Answer

It's child abuse. Society has a compelling interest in prosecuting these fuckers and NO IDGAF about YOUR religion!!! YOUR religion is YOURS and the kid is a captive to your stupidstition.

Religious "liberty" comes with concomitant "affirmative duties & obligations as parents" as one court put it. Lock these harmful ass hats up!! It's negligent homicide under ANY other circumstances - no more free passes in the name of the genocidal sociopathic narcissistic sadistic egotistical arrogant creepy authoritarian invisible skydaddy.

genericname85 · Answer

well the question you're really asking is: should parents make decisions for the children or not? especially in health quesiton it's always a question of what you personally think is worse. having the outcome of a disease or the outcome of a medicine. both can be bad. it's a question of preference. and if you think parents shouldn't make that decision for their children, i think that's a very slippery slope to just take every children away from their parents and have them raised by some sort of dystopian government body.

purplepoppy · Answer

Parents are not medical experts. They rely on advice from doctors and guidance from politicians. When you have people at the highest government level ridiculing medical expertise who is a parent to listen too? I think there's a good legal case for sueing the government

Irritatedyet · Answer

I can kind of see the leap you're making to charge parents, but why Trump and RFK? I know, you're going to say RFK is anti vax and blah blah blah, but unless these kids are only about a year old, your argument doesn't exactly hold water. And they didn't tell anyone not to vaccinate their kids.

hahahmm · Answer

The reason why humanity survived so long is natural immunities. Not forced jabs. If you make it legal to force a jab on someone what happens when another jab comes along that does great harm? The legal framework is there to force it on all the kids regardless. This isn't a good idea regardless of how much you feel it's best.

NoDecision · Answer

Is the government going to pay those parents when their kids develop autism or something worse when they do get those vaccinations? The covid vaccine did children no favors either.

fish5505_87 · Answer

Although, I would absolutely and have vaccinated my child (also the law to be able to attend school here) It's ultimately the parents decision. I feeling are changing however, rapidly. I had the disease when I was three, I am assuming right before I would have had to have one for school.

Kelley1 · Answer

Children don't die from measles. Maybe one time in 10,000 cases it happens. More children die from being born. Therefore, it would make more sense to punish parents when their child dies while being born.

exitseven · Answer

I do not know what you mean by curable measles. Does this mean the kid gets measles and the parents do not give the child medical care or is it some vaccine porn?

Anonymous · Answer

no. unfortunately a child does not have a choice in getting vaccines. it is the parents choice. and if they don't want to, there's not much that can be done. that's their child and their decision. it just is

molonski2 · Answer

100 % they should be held to account , the poor kid never got to decide , plus all the other community damage done , and other children will die also.

OneViewpoint · Answer

No these parents should be given an award for cleansing the gene pool of the next generation of social misfits. Nature finds a way.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

I think Drs. that allow people to die of cancer or any other curable illness should be held accountable and any that already have should be sued!!

Sevenpointfive · Answer

from a cure? YES! should healthcare be required to treat indiscriminately? YES!

DCVsMarvel2 · Answer

Creating chaos where there doesn't need to be, just to make it look like "republicans are doing something" Oldest playbook in the world

AngryCarl2 · Answer

Not unless vaccination is a legal requirement. Not all parents are doctors.

SotiCoto · Answer

If it means forcibly infecting the parents too then sure.

shortster · Answer

Should vaccine manufacturers be required to test their vaccines against a placebo and be held liable for injuries caused by their administration?

nawtee_me · Answer

I think for any parent whose child died from a curable disease that they chose not to vaccinate against would be enough punishment in itself….

Anonymous · Answer

Should physicians who perform abortions be prosecuted for murder?

zagor · Answer

Nah, they're doing us a favor by removing their stupidity gene from the pool.

seeyounexttuesday · Answer

Sure, right after vaccine manufacturers are liable for damages.

proybal · Answer

Parents have obligations to protect their children.

mattthefatbat · Answer

Anti vaxxers would be furious with this

Jackblue · Answer

Trump has never discouraged vaccination.

Anonymous · Answer

Should Trump and RFK?

Shy_Steve · Answer

Only if their doctors agree.

Dongie · Answer

NO●■

Should parents of children who die from curable measles be held liable?

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