Prior to the issuing of any mandatory health decisions on the community, the field of Medical Ethics demands a balance and consideration of a number of rights and principles.
Medical Ethics doesn’t only cover medicine and research, but also includes health policy, health economics, sociology, anthropology, and public health policy.
When working on public health decisions, the principle of respect for personal freedom is balanced against other ethical principles such as harm prevention, beneficence, and the different forms of justice within a detailed study of the reasons and circumstances that called for these decisions.
“It is important to note that Moral principles and Human Rights can override each other, depending on the circumstances and details and after performing a thorough study of each case”
In some situations, achieving the public benefit and preventing harm outweighs the principle of autonomy and individual freedom. Such benevolence to the community, is viewed as a good deed. The need to such a good act is estimated according to the reason calling for it (e.g., a pandemic)
Public health is mandated to study and justify whenever policies set in the interest of the community overrides the moral and legal personal freedom of the group members.
Compulsory vaccination falls under public health measures to contain diseases and prevent infection. Hence, the principle of autonomy and personal freedom may be overridden in order to prevent further harm to society; disseminate benefits.
Agreeing to be vaccinated and accepting the minor side effects, is a humanitarian benevolent act. It is a moral obligation to control and prevent the spread of the COVID19 Virus and contain the pandemic.
While the non-maleficence principle has prevailed, public health policy should not deprive individuals of their other rights without careful consideration. Accordingly;
The Saudi Ministry of Health had announced the categories that are excluded from vaccination, to ensure their safety and prevent harm to them:
- Individuals who developed hypersensitivity after receiving the first dose of the vaccine.
- Individuals with excessive sensitivity to the components of the vaccine, proven by a detailed medical report.
- Patients with diseases where it is contraindicated to have the vaccine, as per medical evaluation.
