Mum sues dad for refusing to get children vaccinated

Lawyer says one parent alone can’t decide

ASaudi woman sued her husband for refusing to get their children vaccinated against Covid-19, accusing him of depriving them of a normal life.

The woman’s lawyer Faisal Bin Turki Gharbi said that the lawsuit has merit under article 2 of the Child Protection Law. Even in the case of divorced parent, whether or not a child gets vaccinated is a joint legal custody decision, Gharbi added.

“Non-emergency medical treatment, counselling, school choice and religious upbringing are also some of the major decisions that fall under the umbrella of joint legal custody,” he said.

Gharbi said that if parents cannot reach an agreement, the family court, which has jurisdiction over that child must make the decision.

In essence, the court will look at the particular facts of each case, such as each parent’s reasons for or against vaccination, specific health risks in the family, school or activity requirements, and most importantly, a medical expert opinion.