Node Smith, ND

There has recently been a lot of press coverage regarding recently outbreaks of measles in the Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon region that has caused increase intensity in the vaccine debates.

House Bill 3063: Proposed Changes to Oregon’s Vaccination Laws

Regardless of your individual stance on vaccinations, physicians should be aware that a recent legislative action has been offered, which would change parents’ ability to declare religious or philosophical exemption to receiving vaccines for their children – in Oregon. House Bill 3063 has been introduced in the state of Oregon, and the bill would would remove a parent’s ability to declare a religious or philosophical exemption to receiving vaccines for their children.

This is not the first time this type of legislation has been offered for a vote at the state level in Oregon

A similar bill was abandoned by the legislature in 2015. This bill would not force people to vaccinate their children, but it would bar those who choose to forego inoculations from attending public schools. Those individuals without required vaccines would likely need to home-school. There is currently a hearing scheduled for Thursday February 28th, what will address this bill, and more information will be forthcoming from the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians as it becomes available.

Node Smith, ND, is a naturopathic physician in Portland, OR and associate editor for NDNR. He has been instrumental in maintaining a firm connection to the philosophy and heritage of naturopathic medicine among the next generation of docs. He helped found the first multi-generational experiential retreat, which brings elders, alumni, and students together for a weekend camp-out where naturopathic medicine and medical philosophy are experienced in nature. Four years ago he helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic ReVitalization (ANR), for which he serves as the board chairman. ANR has a mission to inspire health practitioners to embody the naturopathic principles through experiential education. Node also has a firm belief that the next era of naturopathic medicine will see a resurgence of in-patient facilities which use fasting, earthing, hydrotherapy and homeopathy to bring people back from chronic diseases of modern living; he is involved in numerous conversations and projects to bring about this vision.