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You could go to jail for being sick

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You could go to jail for being sick

and other health news

from JoeUser Forums
Did you know that you could go to jail for having tuberculosis? You can. If you are classified as a public health threat and be placed in a jail cell with special ventilation. Mandatory quarantine while being treated like a criminal. I won't waste time by cutting and pasting here, but you can find the articles at whichever site you prefer.

Foxnews.com -- Link

CNN -- Link

Next: By the end of 2007, all 50 states will be tracking AIDS patients by name. This was formerly done by number to protect the patient's privacy, but now, due to federal pressure, they will begin tracking by name. Again, not wasting your or my time with cut and paste:

Chicago Sun Times -- Link

My reason for posting these things: what rights do these people have? They have dangerous illnesses, yes. They pose a danger to society, yes. But should they be tracked and imprisoned? Should they face criminal charges?

And where does it end? Do people with MRSA deserve or need to be locked up? It's extremely contagious and potentially fatal, so why not quarantine these people?

Just curious about what you all think.
6,701 views 29 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
In Florida the patient has to agree to treatment to stay in the hospital or treatment center. If the patient refuses treatment then he has to stay somewhere, jail is the only other place to go.


But he is taking the medicine. Also, it seems as though the jail is unequipped to handle his case since he cannot shower. A hospital or treatment facility would surely be able to care for him better.

You get a hearing, you don't have to be there for the hearing. The judge can appoint your lawyer give him five minutes to review the case file and then have a hearing. You get told what happened later. this is true in criminal and civil law. even if you go to trial you can be tried in criminal court and you don't even have to be in the country. but you had a hearing and a trial according to the law it was fair.


But if you want your own lawyer? You have a right to choose your council, right?



I was not one of those people. He could have religious reasons not to wear the mask or take medicine, it would not matter. The man could not be allowed to walk the streets spreading illness with each breath.


I did not mean to imply that you had. My original comment was in response to those who had. This also leads me to wonder, if he's willing to wear the mask and is taking his medication, shouldn't he be released? I'm really hoping the answer is yes.

Also, if he could not take medication or wear a mask because of religious reasons, I have a feeling that would cause a lot of legal headaches.
Reply #27 from JoeUser Forums Top
Something I'd like to mention at this point... I went back and re-read the news articles. He came specifically to the United States to be treated for this. He'd seen multiple doctors, both in Russia and here in the States.. I cannot believe that one, let alone all of them, failed to communicate the seriousness of his illness. He knew. Regardless of what he says, he had to know. One thing you also failed to mention is the SERIOUS nature of the particular strain of TB he has. He has the rarest form of XDR-TB.. For many people, (mostly those with HIV or auto-immune diseases (i.e. transplant patients, crohn's disease patients, burn victims)) he is walking death. Mask or no mask. It responds to NO treatment, it is extremely virulent and can kill someone without a healthy immune system within a month. I am amazed he was turned loose with a treatment plan the first time around.
Let me re-state this. This particular type of TB is EXTREMELY RARE. Only a handful of cases has ever been noted. When it was first noted some time back, it caused a bit of a panic in the HIV community. We had people frantically asking for TB tests the second they had any sort of cough or tightness of breathing.

Now, as to the condition of his confinement.. well, based on what I read, he needs representation for more ethical treatment. The facility should be able to make arrangements for showers and some sort of.. entertainment. A TV. books. Anything. But to be honest, they may be scared of him. And to be quite honest, I wouldn't want to be within the same building as him.
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Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top
[quote]
In Florida the patient has to agree to treatment to stay in the hospital or treatment center. If the patient refuses treatment then he has to stay somewhere, jail is the only other place to go.


But he is taking the medicine. Also, it seems as though the jail is unequipped to handle his case since he cannot shower. A hospital or treatment facility would surely be able to care for him better.


You get a hearing, you don't have to be there for the hearing. The judge can appoint your lawyer give him five minutes to review the case file and then have a hearing. You get told what happened later. this is true in criminal and civil law. even if you go to trial you can be tried in criminal court and you don't even have to be in the country. but you had a hearing and a trial according to the law it was fair.


But if you want your own lawyer? You have a right to choose your council, right?


Sure you can fire the one the court gave you and hire anyone else with a law license, but the cost is yours as well.

But he is taking the medicine.


Yes, under guard. He as a choice, take the medicine or they make him take the medicine.

I did not mean to imply that you had.


I did not take it as you had, I just wanted to clear the air so others reading did not make that mistake.

This also leads me to wonder, if he's willing to wear the mask and is taking his medication, shouldn't he be released?


Nope, you only get one chance to kill millions. If he can convince the doctors to convince a judge then yes. My advice is he should not hold his breath waiting for that one. If the doctor signs off on letting him go then the doctor would be responsible for any new cases caused by that man. They don't 'make enough malpractice insurance for that case. Would you stake your job, future income, and your life savings on someone who was not responsible the first time?
Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top
Also, it seems as though the jail is unequipped to handle his case since he cannot shower. A hospital or treatment facility would surely be able to care for him better.


Ah.. but he IS in a medical facility. He is just confined to the same area they reserve for criminals. Most hospitals and medical facilities that are within reasonable distance of jail/prison have some part of the facility that is relegated to criminals. In our hospital, it is a particular wing on a particular floor. This allows easier guarding than having inmates spread through out the hospital. Our hospital even has routes in the basements and back corridors for the transport of said individuals.. again, to allow easier security.
I have to question why he's not getting books/magazines, etc.. nor a shower.

Would you stake your job, future income, and your life savings on someone who was not responsible the first time?


Not to mention the dozens, hundreds, possible thousands whose lives would be at risk because he was not responsible the first time.