France passes new law criminalizing vaccine criticism

France’s National Assembly last week passed a law penalizing medical professionals who recommend against treatments backed by the state. 

The new law, which passed with little debate, prescribes a punishment of up to three years in prison or a fine of €45,000 ($48,518) for “sectarian aberrations.” According to French media, the bill defines this as “provocation to abandon or abstain from care.”

Dubbed “Article Pfizer” by its critics, the law would force doctors to recommend such controversial treatments as the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which are considered harmful by many independent medical professionals.

But even more so, the law’s detractors note that the French government has now cemented its control over the medical field. Medicine and healthcare are now being seen as co-opted by the state with no room for dissent by scientists and medical experts.

This was particularly evident during the pandemic when French authorities imposed mask mandates. Public health officials pointed to low-quality studies showing high efficacy rates for face masks, while randomized controlled trials — considered the scientific gold standard — all showed that masks had little to no effect against respiratory viruses. It is unclear if, given the new law, scientists who produce such quality dissenting research will be exempt from punishment. What is clear is that French authorities will not be obligated to rely on high-quality evidence to justify support of certain treatments and interventions.

Critics are also concerned that the law’s passage may embolden other governments around the world who have tried passing similar legislation.

California, for example, only recently repealed AB 2098, a law passed in 2022 aimed at punishing “medical misinformation.” The bill permitted the California Medical Board (CMB) to penalize medical professionals for providing medical advice that has not been approved by public health authorities. Though it was not restricted to certain situations, the law was directed at medical professionals who suggest safe and efficient early COVID-19 treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.

In Brazil, lawmakers introduced legislation last year that would have punished those who criticize vaccines during a public health emergency with 2–8 years’ imprisonment and a fine. The same sentence would have applied to those who refuse government-prescribed vaccines. Parents who refused to inject their children with such vaccines would have faced up to three years’ imprisonment.

Also last year, Brazil’s Health Ministry pressured the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) to take action against medical professionals who disagree with vaccination policies. The Health Ministry accused doctors who doubt certain vaccines as engaging in “denialism.” According to the government, experts in every field of health have been spreading false information, and “hesitation in vaccines has brought harm to the population.”