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Every other day I watch the television infotainment program Inside Edition – it’s often sensationalist and sometimes low-brow, but always a fun time in the same way watching Judge Judy is. You know it’s not good for you, but you can’t look away.
Anyway, last week they ran a whole segment talking about “Fearbola” – a word they made up to describe how the nation is reacting to the Ebola scare.
Readers, I’m not one that is worried about Ebola, as I know the chances of me getting it are slim to none (pending some sort of Outbreak or Contagion-like scenario).
But, when I heard about the quarantine policies that New York, New Jersey and Illinois put in place to help protect their selective citizens from Ebola, I thought it was a good idea.
If you’re unaware of those quarantine policies, here’s a little back-story….
The original quarantine policy put in place by the states mentioned above said that those who had been in contact with Ebola patients in West Africa had to stay in a hospital separated from all others.
On Sunday night, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York began to peel back New York’s version of the quarantine, saying that those medical workers exposed to Ebola could serve out their quarantine sentence in their homes and not in a hospital.
This was in response to a nurse who had been quarantined in a hospital – Kaci Hickox – who had called her treatment “inhumane.” Governor Christie has followed suit.
At the time of print, Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois had not commented on what, if any, proposed changes for the Illinois quarantine were in talks.
I’m glad that those harsh policies have been reversed, however I’m glad that they’re still around, despite cries from those who are opposed to any quarantine whatsoever.
The story of Dr. Craig Spencer – the New York doctor who breeched protocol to have a meatball sandwich, go bowling, go for a ride on the subway and a go for a three mile run around Manhattan with Ebola – was enough to make me feel like any quarantine is justified.
If the people who are supposed to know best – the doctors – decide to go outside despite the fact that they may be showing signs of Ebola, then we are in deep, deep trouble.
I know that the Spencer situation is not necessarily a microcosm of all the medical workers who are coming back to America after having worked with Ebola patients.
However, it is disheartening to see a doctor – a medical expert – who has such disregard for the health and well being of others.
Here’s a guy who decided to do all the things you probably shouldn’t do with a deadly disease: travel in a confined space, hang out at a restaurant and go bowling. It’s almost comical how much he did with Ebola.
That’s still no excuse. He should’ve been more careful.
I know that Ebola is only transferred through bodily fluids and is not an airborne disease, but it sends an entirely wrong message to the public if a doctor endangers the lives of those around him or her.
On some corners of the Internet, you can find people who think that those who break quarantine should be charged with criminal behavior. I don’t think things are that serious…yet.
Getting sick should never be a crime, but knowingly putting the lives of the public at risk should be punishable in some way.
I’m not scared of Ebola because it’s not a wide spread problem yet.
But if it gets to that stage, people must take more responsibility.
Brian Laughran
Editor-in-Chief
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