The following is taken from my original paper on
philosophical exemptions:
I would like to include some of the testimony made to Congress in 1962 by Clinton
R. Miller of the National Health Federation because he so eloquently framed
this issue in the context of history.
"The only time (NHF) would feel justified in violating an American's
exercise of choice in matters of health would be when such exercise of freedom
violated the equal right of another. Clearly at the present time no one
is denied vaccination for themselves or their children if they desire it.
Therefore, citizens who exercise their freedom of choice by choosing not to be
vaccinated are not denying an equal right to another by the exercise of this
freedom.
This principle of freedom is a superior and more fundamental consideration than
that of vaccination. There are those people who so stoutly believe in the
principle of vaccination that their enthusiasm leads them to an intolerance of
anyone who just as stoutly does not believe in it.....
Those who believe in freedom of choice in matters of politics, religion,
and health, emphasize that minority views of one generation become majority
views of another. History has a wonderful lesson to teach us here if we
will learn it. History will record a man of one age as a wise man, even
though subsequent research might prove his theories to be in error, if he
refrained from force of any kind in sharing of his beliefs with his disciples
and contemporaries. But it will record the same man with the same
theories as a fool or a tyrant, who uses, or allows to be used, force of any
kind- not the least of which is governmental force - to gain acceptance for his
beliefs.
Humility about the extent of one's knowledge, or of the collective knowledge of
any age is always the mark of greatness, progress, and understanding....
Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Congressman
is quoted as saying 'The Constitution of the Republic should make provision for
medical freedom as well as for religious freedom.... All such laws’ (which
restrict health choices)'are un-American and despotic. They are fragments of monarchy and
have no place in a Republic'.
.... We maintain that this right was implied, if not written.... But the fact
is that it was not written, and we are left to argue that it was certainly
implied. At the time Benjamin Rush made this plea, it was argued
that this 'right' was assumed by the guaranteed freedom of religion and didn't
need to be codified. ...Incidentally, Dr. Rush was a strong believer in
vaccination theories of Jenner, but emphasized the greater need for freedom in
all health matters."(Excerpted from hearings before the Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, 87th Congress,
Second Session on H.R. 10541. Conducted May 15 and 16, 1962).
ALL
INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED
HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED
AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO
BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE
DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE
AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.