Court Order Mandates Vaccination for Infant Born at Home After Parental Refusal

A couple who opted for a home birth for their first child found themselves in a legal battle when hospital staff insisted on vaccinating their newborn against tetanus. The parents, identified as S. and A., from northern Israel, chose to deliver their baby without medical professionals present, citing thorough preparation and trust in the birthing process. Approximately twenty hours after the birth, they took their daughter to HaEmek Medical Center for routine checks. During their stay, a senior doctor expressed concerns about the sterility of the umbilical cord cutting during the home birth and recommended a tetanus vaccination. The parents refused, stating they had used sterile equipment and that their baby was healthy. The hospital staff then informed them that the matter could be escalated to welfare authorities and the courts if they continued to refuse the vaccination. After a prolonged discussion and consultation, the parents were allowed to leave the hospital with their baby after signing a waiver for further treatment. The following day, however, police and a social worker arrived at their home with a court order compelling them to vaccinate the infant by that evening. The couple immediately contacted a lawyer, who filed a request to delay the order. The court subsequently postponed the execution of the order and scheduled a hearing. The parents' lawyer, Tamir Torgel, criticized the system for pursuing parents over tetanus vaccinations, arguing that neonatal tetanus has been eradicated in Israel for decades and that such actions are based on ignorance of current medical evidence. HaEmek Medical Center stated that they recommended standard newborn procedures and preventative care, and when the parents refused, they acted according to their legal obligations by contacting welfare services. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services confirmed they approached the court due to medical concerns for the infant's health, but the order's execution has since been postponed pending further evaluation. The police confirmed their involvement in assisting welfare authorities based on the court order.