Oklahoma Vetos Informed Consent to Vaccines Bill Denying Citizens Their Medical Rights

Oklahoma Bill 3016 — called the Parental Rights Immunization Act —would have required healthcare providers to get informed consent from parents or guardians before administering a vaccine. In addition, the bill would legally require the healthcare provider to “provide relevant information regarding benefits and risks of the vaccine as well as information concerning the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.” Finally, the bill would require healthcare providers to make available for review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Vaccine Excipient and Media Summary" (also known as the "Pink Book," Appendix B) Program. The bill was vetoed by Governor Mary Fallin on April 29. The bill and her veto represent a failed opportunity to begin to restore the U.S. healthcare system’s integrity. In addition, the fact a bill is even required — and then vetoed — speaks to how far medicine has already fallen down the slippery slope towards full pharmaceutical company control of the U.S. healthcare system and political decision making.