Aliea Bidwell birthed her firstborn child naturally. Aaron was born on Friday morning, March 14, at 9:26 am, weighing 7 lbs, 11 oz. His Apgar scores were 9 and 9, at one and five minutes respectively – the picture of health. He was successfully breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Grandparents Vesta and Ralph Bidwell were present with the happy new family and celebrated the arrival of their first grandchild.
Just a few hours later, their world imploded. Their “choice” was to submit to something that both generations were opposed to on religious and philosophical grounds, or have their newest member of the family be taken in a doctor-sanctioned kidnapping. They saw it as nothing less than vaccine blackmail.
Dr. Bierd claimed that “doctor’s discretion” gave her the right to override the parents’ decision and force the vaccine, or take the baby away and give it anyway. She based this on the fact that Aliea did not have existing bloodwork prior to admission demonstrating that she did not have hepatitis B. In other words, unlike the American system of justice, the assumption of this doctor is that mothers are “guilty until proven innocent by bloodwork.”
Three times Dr. Bierd came in threatening the family. By the second time, Ben and Aliea were in their hospital room with an additional 12 family members, including great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and nephews. With a united front of 14 members of the extended family present, Dr. Terry Bierd came into the room and repeated her threats to allow the vaccine or they would take the baby. The entire family saw it as blackmail.
Around 8 pm, the pediatrician moved up her timeline, telling the family that they needed to decide right then if it was going to be her way (consent to the vaccine) or the hard way. She would call security and they would take the baby away, and they would have to figure out how to get the baby back later. The baby was going to get the shot one way or another, that night.
It was blackmail. Aliea and Ben saw no choice. They consented to the vaccine so that their baby would not be taken away from them.
They were compelled to sign an “informed consent” form for the vaccine. The form stated that the doctor had explained the risks, and that the parents were making an informed decision. Ben said that they were the ones who explained the risks of the vaccine to the doctor. The form absolved the hospital of any and all risks and responsibilities, stating that the parents take all responsibility. Aliea and Ben told the nurse that they were signing under duress. There was no “consent” about it. The baby would get the vaccine no matter what they wanted; this was the only way their baby would not be kidnapped.
