If I refuse the Flu Vaccine my medical practice will be terminated.

[StreetsOfGold]

Yes, your collleague holds out his hand with the vaccine and you "take" it from his hand.
You tell everyone you "took" the vaccine. Brilliant and not a lie.

2 Corinthians 12:16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

[mamboni]

Mamboni, this is tough because if you do take the "semantics" route and "take" the vaccine, you are representing to your colleagues and patients that you accepted the treatment. How will you now be able to advise your patients against getting the vaccine? Every time you bring up the dangers/risks of the vaccine to your peers, they will simply remind you that you took it and call you a hypocrite. Think about the consequences of this semantics game, you may have to fake it for the rest of your practice. On the other hand, losing your medical practice is an incredibly high price to pay to publicly defy the establishment. Let me ask, do you really believe you would lose your practice? Is there a chance that they will acquiesce and not penalize you for refusing the shot?

On another note, I want to applaud you for your comment in the OP. I'm going to print out a copy, keep it in my work bag, and when my colleagues ask why I don't take the shot (as happens every year), I will show them your letter.

Thank you for the kind words. You guys here are great people, intelligent, thoughtful and righteous. Yes, there is a very good chance that I will lose my practice because the physician who spearheaded the mandatory vaccine is the hospital CMO and he doesn't like me or my independent thinking. He shoots from the hip and makes sweeping bureaucratic decisions without a care for the consequences. I seriously wonder if he has Asperger's syndrome.

If I choose the legal route and sue the hospital and name each and very physician member of the medical board, it will certainly bankrupt my practice and destroy my presently excellent relationship with the hospital and community. If I were to win the legal battle it would be a pyrrhic victory. If I lose it would be a personal and professional disaster. I am not so bold as to think that I alone could set in motion a mass movement to reject the mandatory vaccine policy. I merely want to get on with my practice and life, and uphold the oath I took to Hippocrates so many years ago. The semantic solution is not honorable; but, it is not hishonorable either. It is expedient yet no one is harmed and potential financial and professional harm to many is avoided. In the end, I am a pragmatist and realist, not a reformer or revolutionary.

[mamboni]

Hey Mamboni,


I was in africa on holiday recently, and was touring some countries/sites, now in a few of the countries I visited, Yellow Fever Vaccine was required,

So I had a moral dilemna also,

What I did was decided to risk it, with a few conditions.

I loaded up on a shitload of vitamin C a few hours before, during, and after vaccination.

Vitamin C acts as an antitoxin in the body, it acts as a chelating agent, boosts immune function, etc

basically Vitamin C will destroy/nullify/pull out any toxin in the body.

So IMO your risk is about nothing if vitmain c levels are high enough,

in good conscience, you could advise any patient taking a vaccine to do the same thing

Maybe so about vitamin C Sarge; but, there is principle involved as well as unknown risk. I am a big proponent of Vitamin C as both preventative and health promoter and consume 1.5 to 2 grams daily and more if stressed (like about now!). But, I don't know for a fact that the Vitamin C would prevent the serious vaccine-associated complications.

[mamboni]

Does their order violate a previous oath or any contract(s)?
Lawyer up and game plan this out weighing all options and possible scenarios.
Start your own practice and use the publicity in your favor.

In short I'm saying take a STAND and FIGHT.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest. -Benjamin Franklin

That quote looks strangely familar - LOL.

Yes, I'm reviewing my contract, the medical staff bylaws and the credentialing requirements pertaining specifically to my position. I'm fairly confident there is no mention of influenza vaccination. So on legal grounds, they have no standing in forcing me to be vaccinated. But, sad to say, who even respects or follows the letter of the law or contracts these days?

[mamboni]

one other thing i'd like to point out as well.

this illustrates the game has changed.

medical decisions are indeed now being made by bureaucrats, not doctors.

Truer words have rarely ever been spoken. Thank you Chad. I am full of emotion and affection for all of you.

[Uncle Salty]

The semantic solution is not honorable; but, it is not hishonorable either. It is expedient yet no one is harmed and potential financial and professional harm to many is avoided. In the end, I am a pragmatist and realist, not a reformer or revolutionary.

The AMA has a monopoly on the "health care" system and if one wants to make a living in the industry, one has to "play ball" so to speak. Too many examples have been made of renegades and lives destroyed in the process.

It is "art of war" time.

You have a great commitment to your patients and I sense you feel you will do the most good by continuing to help them rather than fighting a beast that will destroy you in the process and deny your patients your care.

When they outlaw healers, only outlaws will heal. Welcome to the new reality, pardner.

[StreetsOfGold]

I seriously wonder if he has Asperger's syndrome.

Couldn't you move to have this person removed with a voice of no confidence, being reckless and possible mentally impaired?

[mamboni]

We live in a world in which we no longer have the luxury of being able to avoid being dishonest.

Isn't that the truth. I told my wife the other day: upholding one's principles is very costly...but so necessary to the health of the spirit and the soul.

[mamboni]

If you don't want to take the shot don't. I have a friend who almost died from guillane barre disease. Probably came about from a flu shot. Another friend is dying of ALS but I don't know if that has anything to do with flu shots. It's a terrible way to die.

Do what you know is right. Don't lie and sell your soul to keep your job. If I recall right Book told you there was a need for doctors in his part of the world and encouraged you to explore that area if you were to move. I know rural areas in the west are always looking for doctors.

It feels good doing what you believe to be the right thing. A few years ago a trucking company I worked for made all the drivers take a course for homeland security to identify and turn in to the Feds any information about people who they thought might be terrorists. I wouldn't sign up. Their threat was they would fire anyone who wouldn't take part. I finaly quit them and for a long time they tried to get me to come back and work for them. It felt good.

Your last paragraph made me so proud of you. Thank you for being a man.

[monty]

Doctor, I have read all this thread. To me the answer would be simple. Stand up for what you believe. If you don't no one else is going to do it for you. Santa's post is dead on. You're intelligent, articulate and humorous. Rock their boat.

Good luck whatever your decision may be.