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Texas father of unvaccinated girl who died of measles still won't vaccinate his other kids [1]

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Date: 2025-04-16

"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead" — Thomas Paine

The story

How do you react to this headline?

Father Of Girl With Measles Who Died Stands By Decision Not To Vaccinate Her

At first blush, this seems to be a particularly cacotopian satire. Sadly, it is not a joke. The insanity exists. And it lives in Texas.

A story in HuffPo explains:

Peter Hildebrand buried his 8-year-old daughter, Daisy, barely a week ago after she died from what Texas health officials say was "measles pulmonary failure." Yet having had a week to reflect on the decline of his daughter and her heartbreaking death, he told the anti-vaccine nonprofit Children's Health Defense he has no regrets about not vaccinating Daisy ― or any of his other children.

Because Hildebrand is on social media explaining his reasoning, we know his rationale for his beliefs. He explained his position in an interview with the Children's Health Defense (an Orwellian-named organization that promotes policies that damage children's health).

The interviewer started by asking Hildebrand if he or his wife died of measles. He replied:

"Absolutely not!"

This is Daisy Hildebrand. In a sane world, she should still be alive.

The interviewer follows up by asking how he feels about the press "pretty much worldwide" saying that his daughter died of measles. Hildebrand replied:

"That hurts. That hurts very much. And that's exactly why I am doing this interview. So hopefully people can understand that she did not die of measles. I feel that if they would have cared the way they should, that my daughter would still be here. And I wouldn't have to be on an interview right now about her. Every single time I think about all that I just get so angry it's unexplainable."

The interviewer then asks Hildebrand what his "warning to parents" would be if their child has measles, pneumonia, or has trouble breathing and they have to go to the hospital. Note: this is what lawyers call a 'leading question.' A disinterested questioner would have asked what Hildebrand would ‘say’ to those parents. Not what his ‘warning' would be.

Hildebrand starts his reply in a way that is only germane in America. He then burrows down the conspiracy rabbit hole.

"It don't matter whether the hospital takes your insurance or not, just make sure you go to a hospital that takes care of the people, Because when they don't take care of the people they end up dying — just like in Lubbock, Texas."

I wasn't aware there were hospitals whose policy is to not care for people. I also have to ask where I would find a list of hospitals that don't take care of people so I don't take my sick daughter to one of them.

The interviewer doubles down by again asking Hildebrand's opinion on the world media reporting that his daughter's demise was a "measles death." He clung to his conspiracy security blanket and added ‘fake news’ because some people are incapable of original thinking.

"It's not right. Neither is it right for the left-wing media to be out their spreading these lies just to make a penny or a buck. That's all they are doing."

Hildebrand added that because he hasn't seen measles kill anyone, measles is not fatal. Therefore, when his daughter died of measles, she didn't die of measles.

"Everybody else that I know of that has had the measles is completely fine. Because the measles don't kill people. These foolish doctors are the ones that kill people."

This claim is like watching people swim and never seeing anyone drown — and from that, drawing the conclusion that swimming never leads to drowning. Then, when your kid is found at the bottom of the pool dying, blaming her death on the EMTs who responded to the 911 call.

I am not saying medical malpractice does not exist. However, it is hard to be the victim of bad doctoring if you don't need to go to a hospital in the first place.

Here is the Twitter post of the interview:

x 🚨 Second 'Measles Death': Father Speaks Out



The media claims eight-year-old Daisy died from measles, but her father and medical records tell a completely different story.



Who is more credible? The bought and paid-for media who only profits from peddling measles propaganda or… pic.twitter.com/QxuenrTpgP — Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) April 14, 2025

My thoughts

I don't know how to feel. As a father, the thought of losing a child is my worst nightmare. I am gutted that a parent has to bury his daughter. On the other hand, isn't a parent who does not take a simple step to protect their children guilty of child abuse?

Ultimately, I feel that Hildebrand is both a dangerous moron and the victim of a concerted effort by cynical right-wing politicians to gain and hold power — no matter how many people are injured or killed by their lies.

There is no medical debate about the efficacy of vaccines. Far fewer people die in the vaccine era of fatal diseases that were once common in the pre-vaccine years. To be anti-vax makes as much sense as being anti-antibiotics. But primed by callous opportunists, people like Hildebrand have bought into the insanity. Now, his surviving children are at risk.

I'm all for parental rights. But sometimes parents are so wrong; there oughta be a law. Sadly, MAGA lawmakers are enabling this rejection of sound science in favor of abstract ‘rights.' They are striking down laws requiring vaccinations for America's most vulnerable.

As usual, when it comes to bad ideas, Texas is hard to beat . It is chutzpah for Gov. Abbott and his gang to say they are pro-life. It makes as much sense as a hyena claiming to be vegan.

If people's stupidity and eagerness to believe bullshit only hurt themselves, then I wouldn't give a damn. I would be in the "You made your bed, now lie in it" camp. But when a parent's poor thinking kills a kid, then I feel sad and angry.

If there were a just God, people's dumb ideas would kill them, not others. But the facts make only one of two conclusions possible. Either there is no justice in the Divine — or humans have just made the whole thing up.

[END]
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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/16/2316801/-Texas-father-of-unvaccinated-girl-who-died-of-measles-still-won-t-vaccinate-his-other-kids?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

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