TB Patient Apologizes For Causing Scare

kfoxtv.com ^ | 06/01/07 | fixtv

[TornadoAlley3]

The tuberculosis patient who sparked an uproar over his decision to fly against medical advice said he's "very sorry" for the pain he has caused.

But Andrew Speaker said he didn't think he was contagious and no one ever said he would be putting people at risk.

[Publius6961]

He saw the impossible American government bureaucracy getting in his way. He did what he had to do to protect himself. You would do the same.

This says all I need to know about Boortz. He's also a selfish idiot.

I would not do the same. I would make sure my disease is arrested and rendered harmless if there is that much attention focused on me for whatever reason.

And if I were a lawyer, failure to do so makes me a stupid lawyer.

[beltfed308]

Bottom line. The guy has a life-threatening disease. He wanted to get home. He was told that he wasn’t a threat to other people. He saw the impossible American government bureaucracy getting in his way. He did what he had to do to protect himself. You would do the same.

Given these circumstances if true I would have to agree. Fortunately it was not contagious. With all the "what if" scenarios I see on this thread let me throw this out.

What if the guy wasn't a lawyer?

What if he was in another country like Sudan?

What if it was you or your child?

What would the responses be to this story?

Flame suit on.

[twonie]

This self-centered creep should only choke. Why don’t we just have those who purposely spread AIDS apologize adnd then forget all about it? This one cannot see beyond himself in order to see what he has done. Personal injury lawyer - oh, yes!

[Solon]

According to MedicalNewsToday To evaluate drug susceptibility, the bacteria need to be cultivated and tested in a suitable laboratory. Such a final diagnosis for TB, and especially XDR-TB, may take 6-16 weeks.

Not knowing the strain of TB, I find it incredulous that any doctor would tell this idiot that he was of no threat to others.

It sounds more & more that this selfish POS just did not want to wait for the results. So, other people be damned, off to a European wedding & honeymoon he goes.

[wanderin]

The likelihood is that the worst any of them will suffer will be having to take medication for some months.

Many many moons ago when I had just turned 18 I had to have a TB skin test for a job. The test came back positive.

I was put on a medication (INH?) for a year.

I had a few nasty side effects while taking it.

I informed the Dr's that I would not take any more pills after a few months of side effects.

They showed up at my door the next day with the nice policeman.

They were there to inform me that they had a (nice free room and board with a bad view) place for me to stay at for the rest of the year if I did not comply.

Getting a good scare, I complied for long miserable year.

[retMD]

Wise on your part.

The issue is no joke, but many people don’t realize the seriousness. And back many moons ago, there just wasn’t the public awareness.

[Barney Gumble]

And the lawyer comes out. Apologize vaguely for PR purposes, but be careful to admit no wrongdoing of any kind.

He's trying to turn himself into the victim. Notice the passive voice, the wife in tears.

[Barney Gumble]

1. He’s an trial lawyer. He’s probably sued many people for lesser negligence.

2. He knew the risk of possibly infecting many others with this. That other people on the flight could get infected with this horrible strain of TB, but he decided to ignore it.

3. If the man was so innocent, why did he try to sneak back into the US via Canada?

4. Was the wedding in Greece so important? He risked so many people so she could

5. He is trying to turn himself into a victim.

Bottom line: He’s probably so narsassitc that he thinks he is above everyone else. One set of laws for everyone else, but he is exempt. Typical trial lawyer.

[Barney Gumble]

And then there is the “situation” of having planned a Bridezilla dream wedding in the Greek Isles with an extended European honeymoon. The gown, the guests, the M-O-N-E-Y! The groom comes down with a virulent strain of TB. What’s a gal to do? Answer: SCREW EVERYONE ELSE THIS IS ALL ABOUT ME! ME! ME

Exactly!!! He never had to go. The wife looks like a real golddigger. Additionally, if the family could afford the well-to-do wedding in Europe, he likely had enough money to charter a flight home as well. Instead he chose a commerical flight.

[caddie]

The CDC has been toothless with regard to quarantines ever since the AIDS epidemic.

Truth be told, there was a time when that could have been contained by closing sex clubs, bathhouses, etc., but the government did nothing because of PC.

Given the gay lifestyle, aerosolized TB is probably less contagious than is sexually transmitted HIV.

Reward for this fecklessness: permanent endemic or epidemic status of HIV in every nation in the world.

Nice work CDC and the d*c&w^^d C. Everett Koop the nitwit pol surgeon.