Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Taste of Ashland starts today Talking trains in Talent Independent Media Week starts Sunday Schneider Children's Center set to close Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel Education Schneider Children's Center set to close Ashland School District seeks volunteers for Educators' Appreciation Luncheon Planning meeting set Wednesday for farewell party Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical Earth Day at Bellview Elementary School garden Environment Students at Walker Elementary School in Ashland get hands dirty for Earth Day Ashland Fire & Rescue Alarm Box: There are good fires and there are bad fires Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Frontier Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Ride & Drive: 2015.5 Volvo V60 Cross Country Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable State News Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries F. Jane Hooper Laurence G. (Larry) Corbin William (Bill) Huett Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Brick city, baby Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships NFL draft: the great unknown Grizzlies chomp out 2-0 series lead High school Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships Ashland Karate Academy racks up trophies in Medford Ashland drops eight-inning pitchers' duel SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race Southern Oregon University Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships SOU's Maguin pockets fourth CCC honor SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race For Raiders, a homecoming Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 25 Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided Matthew T. Mangino: Faulty hair analysis has far-reaching implications Granlund cartoon: Paging Dr. Oz Our View: Fun with university funding formulas Editorial Our View: Fun with university funding formulas Our View: Passion vs. practicality spelled demise of Ashland theater company Our View: Raises raise eyebrows Our View: Close gun-sale loophole Our View: Help fill empty bowls in Ashland Letters Letters to the Editor, April 25 Letters to the Editor, April 23 Letter at Length, April 22 Letters to the Editor, April 20 Letters to the Editor, April 14 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: A good day to act Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided Guest Opinion: A good day to act Jeffrey Gillespie: Bad cops vs. smartphones My comic adventures City looking for ways to create a healthy Ashland for all ages Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Workshop on writing and craft Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical A Taste of Ashland returns Five picks for entertainment this week Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Theater Ticket Availability Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical Ashland New Plays Festival is ready to grow, says new director Ticket Availability Free film fest celebrates OSF 'raconteur' Music The Farr Side: Slow disappearance of physical music On TV: Your guide to the Academy of Country Music Awards The Farr Side: Intriguing time on the Hot 100 Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: ‘Ex Machina’ is the droid you’re looking for Movie review: Fairly smooth sailing for ‘The Water Diviner’ Movie review: ‘Age of Adaline’ is sweet but a little sloppy Movie review: Powerful, tense kidnapping story ‘24 Days’ delivers a strong message Movie review: Crowe’s historical drama ‘The Water Diviner’ isn’t divine, but it’s pretty darn good Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Inner Peace: Creating peaceful relationships Looking Up: Enjoying the bright Moon Costa Living: Basking in flower power Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Frontier Best apps for dog lovers Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided ... Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel ... Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided ... Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel ... COMMENTARY Chris Honoré: Faith-based rejection of vaccines DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Apr. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Apr. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The book “Bad Faith: When Religious Belief Undermines Modern Medicine” was recently reviewed in the New York Times. Part of the review comprised harrowing examples of convictions trumping science, the most wrenching anecdotes about children who fell ill and instead of turning to medicine, the parents, Christian Scientists, placed their faith in prayer and called in Christian Science practitioners. It is not uncommon to read about small children dying of viruses and infections absent medical intervention while the parents declare with unwavering certainty that, had they possessed an even stronger belief in the power of God to heal, their child would have recovered. The fault was theirs, not their faith's. One precedent-setting case took place in 1967. “Lisa Sheridan, a 5-year-old, died of pneumonia. Her mother, Dorothy, a Christian Scientist, opted for prayer instead of antibiotics. The autopsy of the child showed a quart of pus in her chest. The Massachusetts district attorney charged the mother with manslaughter. She was sentenced to five years' probation. From the point of view of her church, Dorothy Sheridan was merely following the tenets of her religion. The government disagreed, thus creating a now familiar intersection (and tension) between individual/parental rights and what the government identifies as its purview of responsibility, more specifically its obligation to protect children from abuse or negligence at the hands of their parents. A more contemporary example of this intersection involves mandated vaccinations. In response to the recent, multi-state spread of measles, Oregon Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, a Beaverton Democrat and family practitioner, proposed and then withdrew (after stiff opposition) Senate Bill 442, which would have narrowed the scope of exemptions parents could claim from the mandate to vaccinate their children before sending them to school. The senator proposed that parents could no longer opt out of the requirement for broad-spectrum philosophical reasons, though medical waivers would still be in effect. In the alternative, Dr. Hayward now proposes that parents must watch a video that explains the science behind what remains a loosely constructed Oregon vaccine mandate. The Senator’s new bill is predicated on the idea that if parents were exposed to the near unanimous opinion of the medical community regarding vaccinations, they would be less likely to apply for waivers. Currently some 7 percent of Oregon parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children, likely obviating what is referred to as “herd immunity”: the more children who are immune, the less likely there will be an epidemic. How to explain the 7 percent: Parents believe, in spite of overwhelming scientific research, that vaccines can be tainted or otherwise dangerous and that these shots are linked to the rise in autism or other developmental diseases. In other words, though presented with irrefutable data that says that there is no linkage to autism or other threatening outcomes, they would rather risk the consequences of a son or daughter contracting, say, measles, than having their child vaccinated. Critics might refer to this choice as faith-based decision-making, absent any objective medical information or analysis. And it’s not a stretch to make the connection to those who reject the intervention of medicine by choosing instead a fragile religious belief. To not vaccinate children is indeed a leap of faith. The reality is that measles, for example, can do irreparable damage to a child if contracted. It is not a benign childhood illness that will pass in 10-12 days. The virus begins with a high temperature (104-plus), followed by a rash and possible mouth sores. A percentage will become dehydrated, some will suffer ear infections (which can lead to deafness, and some will contract pneumonia and lung infection (which can lead to death). A small percentage will have seizures, swelling of the brain resulting in convulsions and possible coma. This is what happened to the much-loved Olivia, daughter of children’s author Roald Dahl. To reject vaccinations is to gamble with the well-being of a child. When push comes to shove, anger at what is considered government overreach while maintaining unfounded faith in the amorphous dangers inherent in vaccines will not save a son or daughter if measles become life threatening. Nor will prayer. Chris Honoré lives in Ashland. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Apr. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501