Jailed for being sick
Robert Daniels has tuberculosis. And he's locked in a room in a hospital in Phoenix, AZ.
Is being sick a crime? No, but if you have extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis and you don't wear a mask when you go out in public, then you will not be allowed out of the hospital until (or if) you are well. How long will that take? Probably years.
Read Mr. Daniel's story here. Then look over this article on XDR tuberculosis and its deadly effects in South Africa. Then tell us whether you think involuntary detention is a good solution. Provide us some additional information on:
- drug-resistant tuberculosis
- involuntary detention
- other diseases that might be drug resistant and globally spread
4 comments:
Recently i found out that one of my Uncles was diagnosed with Lukemia and when i payed him a visit i was told to wear a mask for his protection before entering his room. I never really thought that this could just as easily be done the other way around such as the case with Daniel. It never occurred to me that dealing with Drug resistant TB was something serious. Thusly, bringing up a good point as to what to do with such victims. Is it moral to quarantine and to isolate? At what point as a society do we determine who is to be seperated or ,better yet who instills the decision making to be left to us. What caught my eye was the interesting statistics found In South Africa in refrence to HIV. In runs a close parallel to a Disease like tuberculosis. I cannot provide an answer as to whether what was done to Daniel was Justly but perhaphs due to technology his Quarantine was neccessary.
Eduardo 9416
Mr. Daniel’s extremely rare case of drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) validates his situation in confinement. While involuntary confinement is a horrible thing, I believe his situation is a case where it is justified. Mark Harrington, an advocate against involuntary confinement says it best, “… the rate of TB in the U.S. is at the lowest ever this last year.” XDR-TB is a deadly illness that the U.S. is taking very seriously. While involuntary confinement may not be the best option in the eyes of Mr. Daniels, it has worked to keep cases of TB at their lowest ever. XDR-TB has seen devastating effects, one such example in South Africa, where a median fatality rate was 16 days for 52 out of 53 infected individuals. In this day an age of SARS and avian flu, more and more cases of involuntary confinement will take place. Rather than put hundreds or even thousands of people at risk, it would be better for the whole if the disease is targeted and isolated from the beginning. While I believe involuntary confinement is a valid option, I also think the treatment should not be so harsh. Because it is a rare situation, the individual should be treated in a nicer secluded facility rather than a small concrete prison like cell.
Karl 4553
A related article on TB in South Africa can be found here: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1607200,00.html
http://www.tballiance.org/2_1_2_MDR_TB.asp
Eduardo 9416
heres my link.
After reading Robert Daniel's story it is apparent that his situation is extremely unfortunate. However, the severity of the drug-resistant tuberculosis proves that it is not fair or safe for him to interact with the rest of the public. Even though he may feel his confinement is unfair he also should be concerned about the health of the rest of the population. On the other hand, taking away all outside contact-t.v, radio, phone-is a little extreme and should be reconsidered. Even some prison inmates are allowed the privilege of outside contact and they committed an actual crime. After reading about South Africa it brings up a difficult question of what to do with almost an entire country that is prone to easily catch diseases such as SARS or HIV/AIDS? Targeting cases would only put the few away that could spread diseases, but it would be difficult to tell who has and who doesn't have certain diseases throughout the country. America is lucky that we are able to isolate the few of those those that are infected, while South America has diseases spreading.
Here is also an interesting website where you can search diseases found all over the world and how to prevent them:
http://health.einnews.com/news/latin-america-diseases
Loren 3875
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