Teen with TB jailed, receiving care

Source: AP

ATLANTA - A teenager with active and contagious tuberculosis was jailed after he refused treatment at a hospital, and said he would return to Mexico, officials said Monday.

Francisco Santos, 17, agreed to take a regimen of four antibiotics Friday night after authorities obtained a court order to jail him, Gwinnett County health officials said at a news conference.

Santos is being held in isolation at a medical facility at the county jail, said Vernon Goins, a spokesman for the county health department. He is to be held until a Sept. 5 court hearing.

Eight of Santos' family members, who were in close contact with the teen, have also come in for tuberculosis tests. Results are expected in two or three days, Goins said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070827/ap_on_re_us/tuberculosis_youth

and it is spreading tragically.. in mexico they self treat and make killer strains in close quarters with lots of people crowded in them

throw another straw on the Camel's back. On the bright side, it might make peopls take health care seriously.

So it's a crime to be sick now? Get him out of the fucking jail; conditions there cannot help his disease.

according to the article.

i don't have much pity for those people who want to spread TB to others because it's too inconvenient for them to be treated and they figure they're personally immortal because they're teens or young grooms or what have you

So you would prefer he be allowed to go back to Mexico (where we all know the population gets GREAT healthcare)and spread it around to an unknowing population? They can't just "get him out of the fucking jail" because doing so will cost the lives of innocent people due to his own stubborn ignorance.

While you throw a tantrum over his confinement, they have saved some innocent lives.

Touched on this same issue.

I think if he has active and contagious TB, refuses treatment and is a flight risk, he needs to be kept in custody. Public health trumps his liberty in this case.