Mary writes:

[Of course, I know! We are told that!

We are also told MMR  is "necessary" to preserve life!

So, just asking a few questions.

Don't worry, I have no  power in this situation, the child right now is
being pumped full of antibiotics and painkillers to "preserve life."]

   Dear Mary,

  I understand your concerns.  I think that you are right to be concerned
overall about everything pumped into us.  There are rare times when an
antibiotic is appropriate.  In the case of a burst appendix, this is one of
those times.

When the wall of the appendix ruptures, the pus from the appendix is usually
spread to the abdominal cavity causing an infection called peritonitis.
Left untreated, it is 95% fatal.

I've had pneumonia and not taken antibiotics.  To me, I felt it was a
reasonable risk to take.  If my appendix ruptured, I would take antibiotics.

I think there is a big difference between emergency medicine and every day
medicine.  I know homeopaths, naturopaths and herbalists who respect the
efficacy of emergency medicine but eschew the rest of modern medicine.  We
have to be careful to not have knee-jerk reactions to everything that comes
from modern medicine.  A body that has not been assaulted with modern
medicine will withstand the occasional emergency life-saving treatment with
no long term damage.  But, even if a person has engaged fully in modern
medicine throughout their lifetime, a ruptured appendix is not the time to
stop.

If more people questioned as you do, Mary, we would be a healthier society
overall.

 Warm blessings,
  Siobhan