Parents refused to vaccinate newborn after home birth: court order attempts to change decision
S. and A. chose to have a home birth, but a conflict arose at the hospital over the staff's demand to vaccinate the baby against tetanus. The parents stated there was no reason for the procedure. After being discharged, a police officer and a social worker arrived with a court order requiring the vaccination. The order has since been stayed, and a hearing is scheduled.
24-year-old S. and her 25-year-old partner A., residents of northern Israel, chose to have their first daughter via home birth without a midwife or medical professional present. According to the couple, they prepared for this throughout the pregnancy. However, upon arriving at the hospital after the birth for a routine check-up, they encountered a prolonged conflict over the medical staff's demand to vaccinate the baby against tetanus. The dispute continued after they were discharged, eventually leading to a court order and a police visit to their home.
S. stated that she was under medical supervision throughout her pregnancy. The birth took place at 40 weeks on a Friday night. "We prepared with a professional. A. was trained on how to cut the umbilical cord, and we used a sterile kit," S. told mako Health. She explained that the decision to give birth without a professional stemmed from her confidence in her body.
About 20 hours after the birth, the couple arrived at HaEmek Medical Center for registration and a check-up. S. noted that the tests were normal, and they stayed overnight.
The vaccination dispute
The following day, the staff's attitude shifted. A. reported that a senior doctor expressed doubt regarding the sterility of the umbilical cord cutting and recommended a tetanus vaccine. The couple refused.
"The doctor said he didn't trust that the cord was cut in a sterile way," A. claimed. "We felt a conflict was being created around our decision." S. added that the doctor warned them of tetanus risks and stated that if they refused, the matter would be referred to welfare authorities and the court. Despite hours of consultation with social workers, the couple maintained their position and were eventually discharged after signing a refusal for further treatment.
Court intervention
The day after returning home, a police officer and a social worker arrived with a court order requiring the baby to be vaccinated by 10:00 PM. The couple immediately contacted a lawyer. Fearing they might leave with the baby, the police officer prevented A. from re-entering the house while S. remained inside with the newborn.
A request to stay the execution of the order was filed through their lawyer. The lawyer later confirmed that the order had been cancelled and a hearing scheduled for the coming days. "We won for now," the mother wrote. "We need to process what happened as a new family."
HaEmek Medical Center stated: "The staff recommended standard procedures based on professional judgment. The parents refused. The hospital acted in accordance with its legal duties by contacting youth welfare services. Following a dialogue, it was decided not to force treatment and to allow the discharge." The Ministry of Welfare confirmed the urgent court application due to health concerns. The Israel Police confirmed they assisted welfare authorities based on the court order.
