AMA OFFERS RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL VACCINE EXEMPTIONS TO ITS MEMBERS

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OFFERS RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL VACCINE EXEMPTIONS TO ITS MEMBERS
AMA Code of Ethics, Opinion 8.7

February 2019
By Kevin Barry

In a stunning display of hypocrisy, the American Medical Association's code of ethics allows AMA members both religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccination for THEMSELVES .

But for non-AMA members, since 2015, "the AMA will seek more stringent state immunization requirements to allow exemptions only for medical reasons."

Pure hypocrisy!

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8.7 Routine Universal Immunization of Physicians

As professionals committed to promoting the welfare of individual patients and the health of the public and to safeguarding their own and their colleagues’ well-being, physicians have an ethical responsibility to take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of infectious disease in health care settings. Conscientious participation in routine infection control practices, such as hand washing and respiratory precautions, is a basic expectation of the profession. In some situations, however, routine infection control is not sufficient to protect the interests of patients, the public, and fellow health care workers.

In the context of a highly transmissible disease that poses significant medical risk for vulnerable patients or colleagues or threatens the availability of the health care workforce, particularly a disease that has potential to become epidemic or pandemic, and for which there is an available, safe, and effective vaccine, physicians should:

(a) Accept immunization absent a recognized medical, religious, or philosophic reason to not be immunized.

(b) Accept a decision of the medical staff leadership or health care institution, or other appropriate authority to adjust practice activities if not immunized (e.g., wear masks or refrain from direct patient care). It may be appropriate in some circumstances to inform patients about immunization status.