Survey – NJPHIPAC

Your Name *

First

Last

Your Email *

District # *

Please indicate which statement is closer to your own view and more consistent with your legislative philosophy.

We realize that neither choice may perfectly express your position. Please feel free to use the space provided to clarify, expand or otherwise articulate your perspective.

1. *

A) It is a legislator’s duty to protect the health of the people, even at the expense of their freedom.
B) It is a legislator’s duty to protect the freedom of the people, even at the expense of the inherent risks to health implied by that freedom.

1. Comments

2. *

A) It is a legislator’s duty to enact the will of the majority. The minority must either conform to this will or deal with the consequences.
B) It is a legislator’s duty to carve out protections for the minority within the framework of the implementation of the will of the majority.

2. Comments

3. *

A) Public health is defined by medical experts. Legislators must follow expert recommendations when crafting public health policy.
B) Medical expertise is an essential resource for legislators when crafting public health policy but it is only one factor. Legislators must also respect the ability of human beings to determine what health means for them and how to achieve it.

3. Comments

4. *

A) Medical experts advocate in favor of or in opposition to legislation based primarily on their desire to help other people. There is no reason to further scrutinize their motivations as their expertise is not merely technical but ethical as well.
B) Medical experts are no different than other people in that their positions on proposed legislation should generally be taken to be biased towards self-interest. A legislator must be a savvy consumer of information, especially when asked to accept its truth on the basis of authority.

4. Comments

5. *

A) Public health authorities make recommendations and policy decisions on a population level basis. A legislator must understand that there will always be a minority of the population whose health may be negatively impacted by the implementation of such policies and must see to it that the law provides appropriate protections.
B) Public health authorities make expert decisions which are usually best for almost everyone. A legislator must seek to impose expert recommendations on as many people as possible. It is up to the public health authorities to provide protections for those few individuals who may be harmed by this approach.

5. Comments

6. *

A) Public health authorities and elected officials share a responsibility to keep everyone healthy and safe. The people expect this and have implied their consent for certain medical decisions to be made on their behalf.
B) Public health authorities and elected officials share a responsibility to create and preserve conditions which support people as they make decisions as to their health and safety.

6. Comments

7. *

A) It is a parent’s job to make the best decisions possible for their children using a combination of faith, reason and their intimate knowledge of their own child.
B) It is a parent’s job to make the correct decisions when caring for their children. In doing so, they should rely on intellect alone and in matters of medical decision making, they should rely solely on the recommendations of public health experts.

7. Comments

8. *

A) Children have a right to be protected from illness. It is up to the legislature to provide this protection wherever possible.
B) Children have a right to exist in a healthy environment. It is up to parents to create and modify environments in a healthy manner on their behalf. It is up to legislators to support parents in this duty by providing diverse resources and ensuring that a variety of options exist for all families.

8. Comments

9. *

A) When a parent places their child in a public school, they imply their consent for the school and/or state to make certain decisions as to their child’s health. The school and/or state has a responsibility to care for the health of all students under their supervision.
B) When a public school accepts a child as a student, the school and/or state takes on a responsibility to that child and to his/her parents. The education to be provided is a public service and such service does not confer upon the school/state the right or the responsibility to provide any medical care other than that expressly consented to by the parent.

9. Comments

10. *

A) Children should have the right to consent to medical interventions such as vaccination, regardless of their parents intent in this regard. While children do not have the capacity to make important medical decisions generally, it is fine as long as they are making the right choice.
B) Children do not have the capacity to make medical decisions. It is the responsibility of parents to make such decisions on their behalf. A legislator should never participate in an attempt to disregard and bypass parental authority by allowing third parties to seek consent from minors.

10. Comments

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The pandemic has brought many difficult public health questions into the public forum. Below are a few specific questions with regard to these issues:

11. Senator Joseph Vitale recently announced his intent to mandate a Covid-19 vaccine for all students in New Jersey schools. This despite an extremely accelerated and limited testing process which has included no provisions for controlled observations as to long term health effects. Would you vote to ensure that parents remain in control of this critical decision? *

Yes
No

11. Comments

12. It has never been clearer that data can be presented in a variety of different ways in order to support a variety of different objectives. Would you vote for legislation which would require full transparency as to the data and related science used to justify public health measures? *

Yes
No

12. Comments

13. There is great controversy regarding the medical treatment of COVID-19 patients. Ventilators have been widely used despite a dismal success rate and certain therapeutics are employed in some areas and not in others without any clear, public explanation as to this discrepancy. Would you support legislation which would guarantee patients and their families maximum input as to their treatment from among the widest range of existing alternatives? *

Yes
No

13. Comments

14. It has become increasingly clear that the extreme mitigation measures employed to combat COVID-19 carry with them a range of adverse effects. From catastrophic economic damage to profound mental and physical health issues, these harms have only begun to manifest and will impact our society for many years, at incalculable cost. Would you support legislation which would ensure that New Jersey will never again face any public health crisis in such a myopic manner, but will instead consider public health in its full, multidimensional scope? *

Yes
No

14. Comments

15. A generation of children have been exposed to conditions which are indisputably harmful to their mental health and overall development. Social isolation has proven to be sickening and doctors have acknowledged an increased suicide risk among children as a result of current conditions. Nevertheless, some legislators may still wish to exclude certain children from school and from meaningful social interaction based upon their vaccination status. Would you oppose any effort to exclude children from school and/or social activity based upon their vaccination status? *

Yes
No

15. Comments