Public health seeks to jail woman with infectious disease

[MillCreek]

And it is not Covid.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/tacoma-woman-refusing-tuberculosis-treatment-could-be-arrested-friday/

[BobR]

When does the health of the public override the rights of the individual. In WA state it is when you are an active TBer who refuses to isolate and will not take a proven medication to effect a cure. I don't care if she gets treatment or not as long as she stays in her house until she dies, which may take a while. Other wise treat her as the public health risk she is and do what they are doing. Perhaps she is going to jail for civil contempt rather than the disease, she is just going to get treated while there.

bob

[dogmush]

So the philosophical question is when is a disease severe enough to warrant that treatment? How much risk to the public, or to individuals that have not consented to that risk, must we allow before we infringe on the sick person's liberties?

I think COVID has, if anything, made people farther apart on the answers to those questions.  Great swaths of America certainly no longer trust the government's Public Health apparatus to make that decision.

[MechAg94]

Active TB is much harder to spread than the cold or flu, health officials said. For an infection to occur, it typically takes repeated and prolonged exposure in a confined indoor space.

So what does it take to catch TB?  Would just working in the same building (same central AC) do the trick?  I get the impression just her going to the store wouldn't spread it. 

The article doesn't say what sort of home she lives in or what work she does.

[BobR]

TB is spread through the air from one person to another. TB germs are passed through the air when someone who is sick with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, laughs, sings, or sneezes. Anyone near the sick person with TB disease can breathe TB germs into their lungs.

So she is at the store perusing the latest shipment of canned pork snouts while you are contemplating the purchase of canned rooster testicles at the same spot in the aisle. She starts coughing slightly above you while you are picking your testicles off of the shelf, her respiratory secretions are inhaled by you, because that is the way of things. You could possibly end up sharing her TB diagnosis with her.

While that is possible, it is kind of unlikely, but it can happen.

Although tuberculosis is contagious, it's not easy to catch. You're much more likely to get tuberculosis from someone you live or work with than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who've had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious.

I just wonder what her arguments are for not getting treated?


bob

[lee n. field]

Re: Public health seeks to jail woman with infectious disease

There was a case here in Illinois, low '90s some time.  Was fairly newsworthy at the time.  The IL governor at the time was involved with it.  Prostitute with AIDS, imprisoned.  She found Jesus, get let out so she could go home to die.  Relapsed, went back to the life.  Back to lockup she went, and there she died.

Judge Philip Sorenson found the woman in civil contempt for refusing to comply with the order that she resume taking medication or isolate herself.

mental health issues with this one?

[RoadKingLarry]

I thought the gayzez got it declared a right that they didn't have to inform or protect their partner from sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS or Monkey Pox.

[MillCreek]

I thought the gayzez got it declared a right that they didn't have to inform or protect their partner from sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS or Monkey Pox.

In Washington, regardless of sexual orientation, you are required to disclose your HIV or STI status to current and prospective partners. It is a gross misdemeanor if you do not.

[Perd Hapley]

In Washington, regardless of sexual orientation, you are required to disclose your HIV or STI status to current and prospective partners. It is a gross misdemeanor if you do not.

Prudes.