We all know that planes are flying germ incubators. I always hate to hear coughing and hacking on a plane, but I never thought of the possibility of contracting TB while on a plane. Have you?

The young lawyer with TB says he was told he was not risking the health of others after his initial diagnosis and while in Italy, when test results confirmed just what he had, he feared incorrect treatment and proceeded to fly home in spite of being told to turn himself in. Did he do the right thing? What do you think?

An Atlanta lawyer infected with a rare, often fatal form of tuberculosis said today he has a recording made before he flew to Europe that shows health officials told him he was not a risk to others.

TB Patient

 

Unless he has been doing a lot of foreign traveling the last few years, isn't it odd that he contracted TB when his father-in-law works as a TB researcher? Very, very coincidental. (maybe his father-in-law was against the marriage....?)

 

He was asked not to go. He knew confirmatory results were pending before he left. The Italiens contacted him to remain in place and he escaped. He may have taken up to 4 European frights to find a way out. Going into Canada was purposeful, in hope of sneaking across the border. He exposed people in all legs all over the place and getting on planes was particularly careless. He is nothing less than a selfish p***k. A personal injury lawyer no less! Now, he has the gaul to whine on national news. He meant to circumvent laws all over the place. He should be fined and sued often and severely. He should be convicted of a federal crime. He should face procecution in the International Court. He should be dragged naked through three miles of broken glass!

 

Strong opinion from John, and a good question by Morris.

One time while on a plane trip, I had a cough related to asthma. I didn't know what it was at the time, and I think the dry airplane air set if off. I felt fine but, I coughed my way to Aruba, sounding like a cat choking on a fur ball. In hindsight, I certainly wonder what the man next to me must have been thinking. If it happened now, they'd probably throw me off the plane.

 

He should spend the rest of his days in a scene from Papillon, as far as I'm concerned.

 

He sure sang a different song on the news today, claiming that his doctors said he was not contageous. It was also supposedly filmed by his dad.

 

The father in law working for the CDC certainly raises questions. What did he know and when?

I'd find it hard to believe that his daughter did not confide in him and ask for advice, or that he was unaware of his son in law having TB which was discovered in January!

 

Supposedly when he left the country, (he was advised against it) but alleges he was not ordered not to travel and told he was not contagious. However, he WAS contacted while in Europe and told to stay put. At that point he knew with certainty what he had and the seriousness of it, and yet, still made his way back to the states putting many others at risk.

 

He was operating on the "it's better to ask forgiveness than permission" theory.

And yes, he balanced his own risk and comfort (treatment at home) versus that of others (risk of spreading the disease).

It's not like Europe is a remote, isolated, backwards place.

 

One has to wonder if there is any connection between the father in law's work and the TB, because TB is so rare, but I'm trying to reserve judgement until we know more. As for the guy traveling around the way he did, it certainly doesn't seem right to me, and I'd be a little surprised if he didn't break a few laws along the way. If he didn't, we may need some new laws. If he did, then he should be prosicuted to the fullest extent of the law.

If I'd been on one of the planes he flew on I'd no doubt be suffering some degree of mental anguish, and acquiring some medical bills. I'm not sue crazy, but people should have to pay for damages they cause with malace and forethought.