05 March 2023 , 12:47
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A woman has been ordered to jail after spending over a year refusing to get her deadly and highly infectious illness treated.
Her refusal to get her tuberculosis treated defied numerous court orders and she has had to attend court 17 times over the matter.
Her local health department argues the woman from Tacoma, Washington, US, “knowingly, willfully, and contemptuously violated this court’s orders."
Judge Philip Sorensen at the Pierce County Superior Court upheld an earlier order forcing the woman to be locked up in jail or other qualifying facility for treatment until officials give her the clean bill of health.
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a highly infectious bacteria spread through coughs or sneezes of an infected person. Although it can be easily treated, if left it can be deadly.
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Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said in a statement: “This patient is still refusing to isolate and get the treatment she needs to treat her tuberculosis. The civil arrest warrant ... will authorise law enforcement to detain her on or following Friday, March 3 and take her to a facility equipped for isolation, testing and treatment.”
It continued: “We will continue to work through the court and to pursue all our options to protect the community and persuade the patient to voluntarily seek the life-saving treatment she needs.”
The woman’s identity has not been publicly released.
Her attorney Sarah Tofflemire suggested the woman didn't understand what was happening which was a significant factor in her refusal to get the TB cured.
Tofflemire’s filing stated: “She has not acknowledged the existence of her own medical condition. Because counsel is bound to represent the respondent’s stated interest, a guardian ad litem would be able to provide representation of her best interests, which are not currently clear.”
Regarding the claims of the reluctant patient's confusion, the health department stated it had “provided respondent copies of all the orders in this matter in both English and her native language, a court certified interpreter has been at every hearing,” and that “native speakers have attended visits by TPCHD representatives and law enforcement.
“In addition, at every hearing where respondent was in attendance, this Court has provided an interpreter who translated the proceedings for respondent in real time. Respondent has thus been fully aware of the court’s orders and the rationale behind those orders.”