Help stop a dangerous vaccine bill in New Jersey!

The New Jersey legislature is considering a bill that would restrict medical free speech.

A1884 would establish the act of disseminating “misinformation” or “disinformation” by a health care professional as an act of professional misconduct subject to disciplinary action.

The bill, as amended, defines “disseminate” as the sharing of information, including treatment or advice, from a health care professional to a patient under their care.

In other words, if a medical professional disagrees with the government’s approach to healthcare, they may face punishment for sharing that opinion or for how they choose to treat their patients.

The Weston A. Price Foundation OPPOSES this bill because it restricts health care professionals from providing treatment and advice based on their expertise and understanding of health issues without fear of being accused of a newly defined type of professional misconduct related to the ambiguous terms “misinformation” and “disinformation,” which could lead to disciplinary action from state authorities and professional boards.

This would effectively limit the free speech of health care providers and disrupt the informed consent process.

A1884 as amended, passed the Assembly Health Committee by a vote of 5 Yes, 3 No, 2 Not Voting, and 1 Abstain, on 9/23/2024.

Please help us protect medical free speech today!

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your New Jersey State Assembly Member and ask him or her to oppose A1884.

You can look up who represents you here on this interactive map: https://njleg.state.nj.us/district-map

Calls are more effective than emails and only take a few minutes.

Sample script:

“Hi, my name is ____, and I am a constituent. I am calling today to express my strong opposition to A1884, which restricts medical free speech.

I believe that health care professionals should have the freedom to discuss treatment options and share their expertise without fear of punishment. This bill could hinder their ability to provide informed care and negatively impact patient trust.

I urge Assembly Member ______ to oppose this legislation, as it threatens both the integrity of medical practice and the rights of patients to receive honest, open communication.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue.”

Be sure to explain why this issue is important to you. You may wish to use a couple of the talking points below. Don’t copy all of them – just use them as ideas to help structure your own message.

TALKING POINTS for calls and emails:

First Amendment Violation: A1884 infringes on the First Amendment rights of health care professionals by limiting their ability to speak freely about medical issues, particularly regarding patient care and treatment options.

Government Overreach: The bill empowers the government to control the type of care that providers can offer, undermining the patient-provider relationship and the foundational principles of the U.S. health care system.

Impact on Informed Consent: By restricting health care professionals from discussing potential risks associated with medical procedures, such as vaccines, the bill compromises patients’ ability to give truly informed consent. Patients need full access to information to evaluate their health choices effectively.

Concerns from COVID-19 Experience: During the pandemic, many credible voices expressing concerns about vaccine safety and treatment protocols were silenced, which raises alarms about the suppression of legitimate medical discussions. A1884 would continue this trend, potentially punishing those who speak out.

Conflicts of Interest at the CDC: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is responsible for both promoting vaccines and monitoring their safety, creating a conflict of interest. This can lead to the prioritization of vaccine promotion over genuine safety assessments, impacting public health negatively.

Risk of Professional Punishment: Under A1884, health care professionals could face disciplinary action for discussing such things as risks related to vaccines, further discouraging open communication with patients.

Censored Information: Important data regarding vaccine safety, including the substantial compensation paid to vaccine injury victims and the number of adverse events reported, could be labeled as “misinformation.” This could prevent vital conversations between patients and their providers.

Patient Safety at Stake: Allowing the government to restrict discussions around vaccine risks can increase the likelihood of patients experiencing adverse effects, as they may not be fully aware of their own contraindications, or the potential risks involved.

Honesty: By opposing A1884, we stand for the rights of both patients and health care professionals to have open, honest conversations about medical care without fear of government retaliation.

MORE INFORMATION

View the text, status, and history of the bill here: https://njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A1884

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