Odpowiedzialność przedstawicieli ustawowych małoletnich sprzeciwiających się obowiązkowym szczepieniom ochronnym

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present legal regulations concerning the liability of statutory representatives of minors opposing mandatory preventive vaccination. In the event of failure to comply with this duty, execution procedure is instituted through administrative enforcement proceedings. The enforcement authority is of course the provincial governor who, pursuant to Article 121 of the Act of 17.06.1966 on administrative enforcement proceedings, can impose a fine of up to 50,000 PLN. On the other hand, a doctor is authorized to notify a family court. According to Article 109 section 1 of the Act of 25.02.1964: The Family and Guardianship Code, if a child’s welfare is at risk, a guardianship court shall issue relevant decisions. Moreover, a guardianship court can order that the minor’s parents should take certain actions (Article 109 § 2 item 1 of the Family and Guardianship Code) or that their parental authority should be exercised under permanent supervision by a probation officer (Article 109 § 2 item 3 of the Family and Guardianship Code). Furthermore, an ultimate step is deprivation of parental authority. If parental authority cannot be exercised due to a lasting obstacle, if parents abuse their parental authority, or if they neglect grossly their duties towards the child, a guardianship court shall deprive them of parental authority.