A THOMSONIAN ARGUMENT AGAINST MEDICAL MANDATES
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Abstract
This paper explores the parallel between Judith Jarvis Thomson's argument for abortion rights based on bodily autonomy and the contentious issue of vaccine refusal. Drawing on Thomson's famous thought experiment involving a violinist, I present analogous scenarios involving medical decisions. I argue that if Thomson's reasoning holds, individuals also possess the right to refuse vaccines, even if it entails serious risk to others. The paper underscores the importance of recognizing that medical decisions, including vaccine refusal, should be evaluated within the framework of bodily autonomy and individual rights, challenging the prevailing opinion on this complex issue.
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References
Kowalik, M. (2021). Ethics of Vaccine Refusal. Journal of Medical Ethics, 1-7.
Parent, W. A. (1980). Judith Thomson and the Logic of Rights. Philosophical Studies: An International Journal for Philosophy in the Analytic Tradition, 37(4), 405-418.
Singer, P. (2021, August 4). Project Syndicate. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/why-covid-vaccine-should-be-compulsory-by-peter-singer-2021-08?barrier=accesspaylog
Thomson, J. J. (1971). A Defense of Abortion. Philosophy & Public Affairs, 1(1), 47-66.