Jabs and barbs: ways to address misleading vaccination and immunisation information using currently available strategies.
Misleading vaccination information undermines confidence in vaccination and may lead to reductions in the effectiveness of vaccination programs. A number of regulatory techniques can be employed to challenge the spread of false information, including health care complaints, therapeutic goods laws, consumer protection laws and professional discipline. This article examines three case studies involving the publication of anti-vaccination information by non-professionally aligned organisations, by non-registered health professionals, and by registered health professionals under the National Law. The article examines the effectiveness of different regulatory responses and makes suggestions for future strategies to deal with the publication of demonstrably false information regarding vaccination.
Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney; Cameron Stewart, BEc, LLB (Hons) (Macq), Grad Dip Jur, Grad Dip Legal Prac (NSW College of Law), PhD (Syd), Pro-Dean and Professor of Health, Law and Ethics, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney; Malcolm Parker, MBBS (Qld), M Litt (UNE), M Hlth & Med Law (Melb), MD (Qld), Professor of Medical Ethics, Head of Academic Discipline of Ethics, Law and Professional Practice, School of Medicine, University of Queensland. jon.wardle@uts.edu.au
Jon
J
Wardle
Cameron
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Stewart
Malcolm
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Parker
D000329:Advertising; D001315:Australia; D002684:Chiropractic; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D014611:Vaccination