Medical ethics principles underscore advocating for human papillomavirus vaccine

ABSTRACT

Studies have consistently shown that vaccination rates against human papillomavirus (HPV) lag far behind other adolescent vaccinations recommended at the same age, resulting in exposing adolescents to unnecessary future risk of infection, and genital and head and neck cancers. Studies also have demonstrated that a major barrier to vaccination is lack of a strong provider recommendation. Factors that providers offer for failing to give a strong recommendation range from perception that the child is not at risk or the need to explain that the vaccine is not mandated (lack of equity and justice) or respect for parental autonomy. We look at the issue through a different lens, and reframe the above viewpoint by describing how failing to make a strong recommendation means the provider is not meeting the four principles of medical ethics (justice, beneficence, non-maleficence and autonomy).

KEYWORDS:

• Human papillomavirus
• HPV
• medical ethics
• provider recommendation

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Erica Frost, MPH and Sharon Coan, MS (UT Health, School of Public Health, Houston, Texas) for their contributions to and review of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) under a Prevention Grant [#PP140183] and Research Grant [#RP150014].