Swapping chicken pox-infected lollipops illegal

[space-time]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/1...SW20111112

(Reuters) - A federal prosecutor is warning parents against trading chicken pox-laced lollipops by mail in what authorities describe as misguided attempts to expose their children to the virus to build immunity later in life.

[mattkime]

and gross.

[cbelt3]

There's something very weird about this whole over-organized and motivated wealthy parent stuff. What's next ? Trading smallpox infested blankets ?

[OWC Jamie]

cbelt3 wrote:
There's something very weird about this whole over-organized and motivated wealthy parent stuff. What's next ? Trading smallpox infested blankets ?

Blankets would be a bit bulky and costly to ship.

Whatever happened to sleep-overs ? Or just afternoon hanging out ?

[Ombligo]

Besides the idiocy of it,there is no way I'd even consider sending a lollipop to some parent in order to make their child ill. While rare, CP and other childhood diseases can have serious side effects up to possible death.

I cannot imagine the legal liability if something tragic would occur. I would think a large civil suit at best and potentially voluntary manslaughter or 2nd degree murder at the worst.

[Uncle Wig]

Those people are insane. I looked at the Facebook group mentioned in the article and I wish I hadn't.

[Grace62]

I saw that headline a few days ago and thought it was some sort of hoax, I didn't think any parent would be that stupid.

Hope those parents are found and prosecuted. No need to wait until they hurt someone, as the article says sending viruses through the mail or tampering with candy is illegal.

[Paul F.]

Wow.. None of you have ever heard of parents exposing their kids to chicken pox? This is an old old practice... People were doing that when my 76 year old father was a kid!
Is it stupid now that there are so many fewer things to die from as an adolescent that the risk of chicken pox complications seems foolhardy? Yes.. It's not a good idea.
In fact, it IS stupid!
Whats even stupider is looking like a nail for journalists, the medical field and government and bored law enforcement with (apparently) nothing better to do with their time...

[testcase]

"Trading smallpox infested blankets ?"


Only Indians get those.

[NewtonMP2100]

.....SWAPPING spit should be illegal too.....