The Legality of Vitamin K Refusal in the United States

Antivaccine rhetoric has been a major topic of discussion in politics, the news, and on social media platforms. As social media use has become a mainstay of communication, it has become increasingly difficult to differentiate between factual and non-factual information. People have become unsure of what to believe and fear vaccinating their children in case the horrors they see on social media are true. This antivaccine rhetoric has spread from just vaccines to essential prophylactic treatments such as Vitamin K administration in newborns. This is despite ample evidence showing that Vitamin K administration prevents fatal bleeding in newborns. There is also evidence that Vitamin K administration has minimal side effects, demonstrating that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Despite the lack of medical basis, an increasing number of parents are refusing Vitamin K for their newborns. This article explores parents' legal right to make medical decisions for their children, the scope of parental neglect, and whether refusing Vitamin K constitutes neglect from a medicolegal standpoint. It also provides recommendations on addressing this issue.