Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

[MHSC]

Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody


Monday, October 06, 2014Last Update: 4:14 PM PT

DALLAS (CN) - Texas wants a second patient "reasonably suspected of being infected" with Ebola put into protective custody in Dallas.

Dr. David L. Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, filed a motion for a temporary order of protective custody Monday in Dallas County Court.

The unidentified patient, sued as "M.W.L.," is "reasonably suspected of being infected with a communicable disease (Ebola) that presents an immediate threat to public health," the 4-page motion states.

"Further, movant has determined that proposed patient is a threat to himself or others if not immediately restrained. Further, sources charged with monitoring the proposed patient M.W.L. have observed the proposed patient failing or refusing to follow the written order of the Texas Department of State Health Services by leaving the premises of a medical facility contrary to medical directives, without permission and surreptitiously."

Lakey claims that the proposed patient "meets the criteria authorized by the court" to issue such an order.

"The sworn representations of the applicant, who is a credible person, state that the proposed patient is reasonably suspected of being infected with the communicable disease, Ebola, that presents a threat to public health; has failed or refused to follow the written or verbal orders of the Commissioner; and presents a substantial risk of harm to himself or others if no immediately restrained," according to the complaint, filed Monday at 2 p.m.

Lakey wants the patient kept under constant guard at Parkland Hospital, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas or any other appropriate facility.


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http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/10/06/72174.htm

 

[MedStudent_18]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

Isn't Duncan's family under protective custody already? If so, that would mean 'M.W.L' will have contacts of his/her own that will need to be tracked down.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

Is it possibly the homeless contact who already walked out of someplace where he was supposed to stay?

.

 

[curiosity]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

Isn't Duncan's family under protective custody already? If so, that would mean 'M.W.L' will have contacts of his/her own that will need to be tracked down.

Not to mention the people that have to enforce the order. They may physically have to restrain the person. That can get messy.

 

[curiosity]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

Is it possibly the homeless contact who already walked out of someplace where he was supposed to stay?

.

Would they be able to "reasonably suspect infection" with what little exposure he had?

 

[curiosity]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

Maybe the term "reasonably suspect infection" is being used for high risk contacts. And perhaps that means there are no symptoms - just a possibility the person will begin to have them. Therefore technically not a new case or infectious until they have symptoms.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

Would they be able to "reasonably suspect infection" with what little exposure he had?

We shouldn't assume there was only a little exposure - perhaps the homeless man was the next patient in the ambulance that transported Duncan.

.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

We shouldn't assume there was only a little exposure - perhaps the homeless man was the next patient in the ambulance that transported Duncan.

.

Man who rode in ambulance after Ebola patient found

A homeless panhandler who rode in the same ambulance after Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan was found Sunday after an extensive manhunt.

The 52-year-old man ? who city officials identified as Michael Lively ? was admitted to Parkland Memorial Hospital Sunday afternoon after being taken into custody by Dallas police officers......

"He exhibited clear indicators that he needed to be taken to the psych ward," Jenkins said.

Parkland spokesman Mike Malaise said Lively was later removed by health officials and taken to an undisclosed location for isolation.

The manhunt began Saturday after Lively walked away from a local hospital where he had been taken to be checked out.


.

 

[MHSC]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

It's definitely the homeless man, he's a psych patient which explains why he is a danger to himself. This is one of those worst case scenarios where you have a large group that is not likely to seek medical help & the disease will spread like wildfire in that particular population because of lack of hygiene & a large percentage have mental illnesses. We could have a huge problem before we are aware of it.

 

[JimO]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

If this man is the person subject to the court order, and if he does actually have ebola, then he had to have contracted it without having direct contact with Mr. Duncan - likely via fomites.

 

[Lizw]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

What is "reasonably suspected of being infected" and why? Seems like there is a lot of missing information here.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

What is "reasonably suspected of being infected" and why? Seems like there is a lot of missing information here.

Perhaps the precise legal language needed to control an uncooperative person.

.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

Perhaps the precise legal language needed to control an uncooperative person.

.

42 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2011 Edition
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 6A - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER II - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES

Part G - Quarantine and Inspection

From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov


Part G—Quarantine and Inspection

§264. Regulations to control communicable diseases

(snpped)


(d) Apprehension and examination of persons reasonably believed to be infected

(1) Regulations prescribed under this section may provide for the apprehension and examination of any individual reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease in a qualifying stage and (A) to be moving or about to move from a State to another State; or (B) to be a probable source of infection to individuals who, while infected with such disease in a qualifying stage, will be moving from a State to another State. Such regulations may provide that if upon examination any such individual is found to be infected, he may be detained for such time and in such manner as may be reasonably necessary. For purposes of this subsection, the term “State” includes, in addition to the several States, only the District of Columbia.

(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualifying stage”, with respect to a communicable disease, means that such disease—

(A) is in a communicable stage; or

(B) is in a precommunicable stage, if the disease would be likely to cause a public health emergency if transmitted to other individuals.

.

 

[Zac]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

If this man is the person subject to the court order, and if he does actually have ebola, then he had to have contracted it without having direct contact with Mr. Duncan - likely via fomites.

If this person was the one who was in the ambulance that transported Mr. Duncan, he could have been in contact with contaminated bodily fluids. I imagine Mr. Duncan may have vomited, suffered diarrhea, or bled while in the ambulance given that he was reported to have vomited outside his apartment.

 

[JimO]

Re: Texas Wants 2nd Possible Ebola Patient Put in Protective Custody

If this person was the one who was in the ambulance that transported Mr. Duncan, he could have been in contact with contaminated bodily fluids. I imagine Mr. Duncan may have vomited, suffered diarrhea, or bled while in the ambulance given that he was reported to have vomited outside his apartment.

Yes, but they usually clean that stuff up before picking up another patient. There might have been residues, but wouldn't this fall into the category of fomites?