This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/22/victorian-woman-loses-legal-bid-to-stop-children-from-receiving-measles-vaccinations

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Victorian woman loses legal bid to stop children from receiving measles vaccinations Victorian woman loses legal bid to stop children from receiving measles vaccinations
(25 days later)
Supreme court finds magistrate who made the original order had the power to make decision ‘in the best interests of the child’
Australian Associated Press
Fri 22 Dec 2017 06.37 GMT
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
View more sharing options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Close
A Victorian woman has lost a legal bid to stop her three children from receiving vaccinations for measles.A Victorian woman has lost a legal bid to stop her three children from receiving vaccinations for measles.
The woman went to the Victorian supreme court to challenge a children’s court order for her three children to be immunised while in the temporary care of the Department of Health and Human Services.The woman went to the Victorian supreme court to challenge a children’s court order for her three children to be immunised while in the temporary care of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The supreme court dismissed her appeal on Friday and found the magistrate who made the original order had the power to make the decision “in the best interests of the child”.The supreme court dismissed her appeal on Friday and found the magistrate who made the original order had the power to make the decision “in the best interests of the child”.
The appeal centred on whether the children’s court had the power to order the children be immunised.The appeal centred on whether the children’s court had the power to order the children be immunised.
Justice Robert Osborn was not required to consider the risks or benefits of vaccination.Justice Robert Osborn was not required to consider the risks or benefits of vaccination.
At a hearing on 22 November, the children’s father said there was more risk of getting a dog bite than measles. The father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also told the judge he once had measles and had “passed on his natural immunity” to his children.At a hearing on 22 November, the children’s father said there was more risk of getting a dog bite than measles. The father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also told the judge he once had measles and had “passed on his natural immunity” to his children.
The children, who are all aged under five, were placed in temporary state care in August following alleged breaches of family protection orders.The children, who are all aged under five, were placed in temporary state care in August following alleged breaches of family protection orders.
A month later the department said two of the children were “at high risk” from a measles outbreak and unable to attend childcare because they had not been immunised.A month later the department said two of the children were “at high risk” from a measles outbreak and unable to attend childcare because they had not been immunised.
Under Victoria’s “no jab no play” laws, children who are not fully vaccinated cannot go to childcare.Under Victoria’s “no jab no play” laws, children who are not fully vaccinated cannot go to childcare.
The department asked the children’s court to allow them to be immunised and the parents objected but the magistrate ordered the immunisation.The department asked the children’s court to allow them to be immunised and the parents objected but the magistrate ordered the immunisation.
The parents then appealed to the supreme court.The parents then appealed to the supreme court.
They argued temporary placement in state care under an interim accommodation order did not mean the magistrate had the power to make irreversible decisions like immunisation, or impose conditions with long-term effects.They argued temporary placement in state care under an interim accommodation order did not mean the magistrate had the power to make irreversible decisions like immunisation, or impose conditions with long-term effects.
But Osborn on Friday found there had been no error in law and upheld the magistrate’s decision.But Osborn on Friday found there had been no error in law and upheld the magistrate’s decision.
Victoria
Health
news
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Reuse this content