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

This scenario is loosely based on fictional Season 10, Episode 19 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Jungkind D. , “Re: Tracing Viruses,” email to David Hoke, March 7, 2011 (emphasis added).

CDC NCIRD DVD Inquiry, “FW: ‘FW: Tracking Viruses,’” email to David Hoke, March 14, 2011.

Hunt R. , “Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Anti-HIV Therapy,” University of South Carolina School of Medicine, available at <http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/lecture/hiv14a.htm>(last visited June 26, 2012):

Shrag S. J. Rota P. A. Bellini W. J. “Spontaneous Mutation Rate of Measles Virus: Direct Estimation Based on Mutations Conferring Monoclonal Antibody Resistance,” Journal of Virology 73, no. 1 (1999): 51–54.

Julkunen I. Davidkin I. Oker-Blom C. , “Methods for Detecting Anti-Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Antibodies,” in Stephenson J. R. Warnes A. , eds., Diagnostic Virology Protocols (Totowa: Humana Press, 1998): At 154.

Center for Disease Control, Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine Prevention Diseases, Measles Virus Isolation, available at <http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html>(last visited July 13, 2012).

Center for Disease Control, Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine Prevention Diseases, Measles, Laboratory Testing, available at <http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html*#laboratory>(last visited July 13, 2012).

“Placing a clear level of certainty on this is pretty difficult… I would be making up percentages on this but would say 90–95% certain… assuming there was no one else the infant came into contact with that had measles.” Lautenbach E. , “Hypothetical Measles Question,” email to David Hoke, April 13, 2011; “I think the epidemiological evidence can build a strong case but I think certainty is not possible. if all of the epidemiological features pointed to the first child infecting the second, then I think the certainty of that is very high (>>95%) given that measles is otherwise such a rare infection in the US currently.”.

Metlay J. , “Hypothetical Measles Epi Question,” email to David Hoke, April 13, 2011.

It should be noted, further, that Mr. and Mrs. P might likewise pursue a claim for the negligent infliction of emotional distress, due to the personal suffering they would experience in losing their child. While such an action is certainly a viable option, it has no direct bearing on our argument that liability ought to be applied where harm has resulted from claiming a philosophical objection to vaccination.

Teret S. P. Vernick J. S. , “Gambling with the Health of Others,” Michigan Law Revie First Impressions 107, no. 110 (2009): 110–113, at 111.

John B. v. Superior Ct., 45 Cal. Rptr. 3d 316, 324, 137 P.3d 153, 159 (2006);

R.A.P. v. B.J.P., 428 N.W.2d 103, 106 (Minn. Ct. App. 1988);

B.N. v. K.K., 312 Md. 135, 141, 528 A.2d 1175, 1178 (1988).

See, e.g., Hamil v. Bashline, 481 Pa. 256, 265–66, 392 A.2d 1280, 1284 (1978).

John B., 45 Cal. Rptr. 3d at 324, 137 P.3d at 159.

Id.

Doe v. Johnson, 817 F. Supp. 1382, 1386 (W.D. Mich. 1993).

B.N., 528 A.2d at 141–43, 528 A.2d at 1178–79.

R.A.P., 428 N.W.2d at 107;

Skillings v. Allen, 143 Minn. 323, 326, 173 N.W. 663, 664 (1919).

John B., 45 Cal. Rptr. 3d at 324, 137 P.3d at 159 (internal quotation omitted).

B.N., 312 Md. at 142, 528 A.2d at 1179.

John B., 45 Cal. Rptr. 3d at 324–25, 137 P.3d at 160–61.

Id., at 325, 137 P.3d at 161 (internal quotations and citations omitted).

Smith v. Baker, 20 F. 709 (S.D.N.Y. 1884).

Teret Vernick , supra note 10, at 112.

Prosser and Keeton on the Torts 266 ( William Lloyd Prosser eds., 5th ed. 1984).

In re Christien M., 157 Misc. 2d 4, 21–22, 595 N.Y.S. 2d 606, 613 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 1992).

Model Penal Code § 202(2)(d) (1981).

Teret and Vernick, supra note 10, at 112.