Anti-Vaccine Mother Loses Health Care Decision-Making Responsibility

Ultimate parental responsibility can be awarded over specific areas of a child's life such as health care, religion or education. While shared prental responsibility is preferred by the laws, one parent can be awarded ultimate decisionmaking authority when it is in the child's best interest.

In a case from the Fourth District, the trial judge took it a step further and found that the mother's anti-vaccine stance, based on her religious beliefs, presented a harm to the child. There was conflicting evidence prersented to the trial judge. Considering the controversy that surrounds vaccinations, this cse is a stunning blow to parents who want to observe alternate health practices (including single shot vaccinations).