The passenger should be arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Posted By Jumpjet on May 30, 2007, 9:46 PM

That person should not be allowed to board the flight, and should turned over to the health authorities. (IMO)

Posted By Nancie on May 31, 2007, 2:25 AM

Murder might be a little over the top; how about Reckless Endangerment? We are sure he committed that crime

Posted By Vt Sailor on May 31, 2007, 3:02 PM

Hi, I don't think attempted murder is too strong,.... do you remember how AIDS started?
One flight attendant spread it across the world and now it has infected Africa so bad that nearly every small village will end up perishing eventually, Let alone all the suffering in every other country.
I found out the guy was an extremely educated guy and therefore there is absolutely no forgiveness

Posted By jumpjet on June 1, 2007, 3:33 AM

Anyone surprised the TB patient flying arround...was a LAWYER? Yah, he knew what he was doing when he came in the back door...

Posted By marty on June 1, 2007, 9:17 AM

You are absolutely right.
Now he is trying to make evering right and denying any wrong doing.
He is a lawyer after all.
I think he is a very bad person.
We should learn from this Things should get better in the future however
Lawyers won't chage!
Jumpjet

Posted By jumpjet on June 2, 2007, 6:10 AM

Class action suit by all passengers to recover the costs of any test, plus "pain/Suffering" and "Intentional Affliction of Emotional distress"..as a lawyer, he should recognize those terms! And pull his passport!

Posted By Lonna Lee on June 4, 2007, 3:12 AM

Accroding to NPR, he checked with his doctor first, who told him he was most likely not contagious. We have the flight numbers he was on, maybe we should see if anyone on those flights is actually sick before we over-react.

Posted By Natalie on June 4, 2007, 5:57 AM

I wouldn't condemn ALL lawyers for this one person's totally selfish act.
I do believe there should be severe consequences in terms of legal and financial consequences.

Posted By linda on June 4, 2007, 6:32 AM

If Midshipment Speaker were in my platoon at Fort Ord, he would be placed on latrine duty and handle the post hospital wastes with the stockade prisoners for the entire term of duty. To not only go on a deferrable trip, but to place family members including an eight-year old girl??? in endangerment, No excuses whatsoever.

Posted By Gerald Jung on June 4, 2007, 6:51 AM

Once again the media in their uneducated, unresearched frenzy has caused more damage than good. TB is common, on an average overseas flight you're flying with about at least 10% of TB infected people. Very few of them will be active. This poor man does NOT have active TB. His chances of infecting someone are slim to none. But he has had extensive disease based on the medical reports, which is why he fell into the category of close follow up.
The only mistake made here is that he apparently didn't check in with the Italian authorities as requested, but if you've actually read all the info on this case, even that is somewhat questionable whether or not he was actually asked to do so.
It is very nice that there is close follow-up on this, but the reality remains, that TB is one of the four biggest killers in the world (which is so much bigger than the myopic US), and the drug resistance is common and occurring in ALL illnesses, not just TB. So please question yourself next time you have a common cold whether or not you want to see if your normally occurring bacterial flora needs another exercise in combat methods against antibiotics or should you just stay home a couple of days to save mankind from the next manhunt for MRSA or VRE or whatever the next bug that has defeated us will be?
And lastly, WASH YOUR HANDS, and when done that, wash them again, for the sake of us all!!!

Posted By nonsense on June 4, 2007, 7:17 AM

Anyone heard of forgiveness?

None of us know what we would have done. Originally he was told he wasn't contagious -how about all the people at the grocery store, movie theatre, place of work where he was since learning of TB in January...he did not intentionally plan to hurt others and especially not his new wife and daughter.

Let's see if anyone else actually contracts TB from him and let them decide what they want to do.

Posted By Jules on June 4, 2007, 7:24 AM

Media sells stories. The CDC says he probably wasn't very contagious. Is anyone out there a probability whiz? I would like to see the true probability of him, in his actual physical state, passing on the TB. If he wasn't coughing and blowing his nose, he shouldn't have been overtly contagious, and the fear factor is way out of proportion. His drs did not tell him NOT to travel. We continually come in contact with people who have contagious diseases, and it's not blasted all over the public air waves. The majority of people on public transportation have good immune systems, and can fight off diseases. Usually, those with compromised immune systems travel in less crowded conditions, or are taking other precautions. We are more threatened driving our cars, having unprotected promiscuous sex, leading sedate, gluttonous lives, driving too fast, and so forth and so on. We should be concentrating on things we can do something about. Oh yeah, bitterness, anger and regrets are unhealthy, too.

Posted By Jane on June 4, 2007, 8:04 AM

I think I would rather have sat next to him than some of my seat mates who have been burning up with fever, coughing, sneezing, slobbering and passing on who knows what. I can't count the many times I've been told "I have no business flying I'm so sick" and the like.

Posted By Judi Abbott on June 4, 2007, 8:27 AM

Remember, his dr.'s told him not to travel and he moved his departure date up a few days. He KNEW he ought not to go and he did anyway. then he was told to report to the authorities in Italy and he made the choice to come home through round about methods. He and the idiot at the border ought to be charged with reckless endangerment and imprisoned. He also needs to pay for all TB tests for everyone he contaminated and those THEY contaminated as well as time lost for the tests. He also ought to be very ashamed of himself.

Posted By lamoreaj on June 4, 2007, 8:35 AM

Pull passport, seize assets, garnish future earnings, put these monies in a trust to use to cover all the costs incurred by investigation, health contact, and medical needs of exposed people, until the seriousness of the TB exposure is determined.

Posted By geri on June 4, 2007, 8:39 AM

Now that this serious issue has surfaced the "powers that be" need to send a strong message worldwide, and use him as an example of what will occur if this type of thoughtless dangerous behavior should happen again. I see him as an example of subversive terrorism that we need to be aware of and do everything to prevent.

Posted By Moonyean Smarzinski on June 4, 2007, 9:31 AM

I think he should be charged with something. This isn't acceptable. He should feel guilty and be shunned by all travellers forever!!! His father-in-law should be questioned also on his understanding of the disease. I am very suspicious of the whole thing.

Posted By Carol on June 4, 2007, 10:14 AM

Hi:
His father KNEW that he was infected
He KNEW he was infected
His FAMILY on the trip KNEW he was infected
The 8 year old on the trip was in DANGER.
He must have known that NO MATTER how small(?) the infection rate was transmittable, HE CHOSE to take the risk.
NOW he must assume the ACTION of his ACTION in Flying.
The AIRLINES have a right to seek damages to their OWN CREWS and passengers.
The air passengers have a right to damages for being PUT IN DANGER, NO MATTER HOW SMALL that danger posed.
REMEMBER ................... WHEN YOUR DEAD , YOUR DEAD. D E A D !!!
How about the families that would be affected by his CONSCIOUS DECISION to take a chance instead of putting off a wedding by the sea.
You live by what you did. Pay for it: prison time, law suit , or both.
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
Ignorance is NO excuse when you put others lives in danger.
Ancient Mariner

Posted By joseph bielawski on June 4, 2007, 11:21 AM

He is a lawyer and his father works for the CDC? His travel is suspicious. He should definitely not go scot-free, as the consequences could be serious. I say pull his passport for a couple of years. Fire (at least) the person who let him go even though he was on the no-fly list. Pay for all the testing that is needed and or pain and suffering to the other passengers. If someone does become infected, pay their bills too. He knew what he wss doing and he had selfish total disregard for the rules and the other passengers and crew.

Posted By Diana Brueckner on June 4, 2007, 11:32 AM

I totally agree with those who say he knew what he was doing. Standing around saying he is sorry is not going to be enough. Perhaps send him to Haiti for some volunteer restitution, something like that.

Posted By Robin on June 4, 2007, 12:49 PM

The man asked if he could travel and was not told he was under any absolute restrictions. the surreptitious re entry into the US is questionable and raises issues about his concern about his health status. The re entry may be a border violation.
But I guess,
Wear a mask if you're afraid of germs in a public place.

Posted By Linda on June 4, 2007, 1:43 PM

He knew what he was doing. At one time, if you were infected with TB you were quarantined and put in an asylum. People with low immune systems could have easily picked up the virus on that flight. A good way to start another TB epidemic.

Posted By Laura on June 4, 2007, 3:57 PM

For him: Make him financially liable for testing and any health injuries incurred by passengers/crew on that flight.
For Yourself: Take personal responsibility....1) If your immune system is weak, wear a mask on flights. Are you aware of how infrequently the air in the plane is recycled and filtered? An airplane is a FAR WORSE enviornment than a movie (or other) theater. You remove the bedspread in hotels, don't you? 2) Bring those antibacterial wipes (with bleach)....onto the plane with you for the armrests, table, lavatory handle, & audio/video controls. (You know the ones that you use for the TV remote.)

Posted By Debby on June 4, 2007, 8:30 PM

Our snotty toddlers are more of a danger to mankind than this man in his current state.....The above comments are exactly the reason why media should not do reporting on medical issues, it is obvious that the complexities between latent and active disease, contagious vs. infectious disease are so above the common man to comprehend, that people can take the axe and start yet another witch hunt, and apparently not only judge, but also condemn innocent people.
I've diagnosed hundreds of TB cases during my career, only one of them was truly, honestly, blood coughingly active. All of them were treated, at least the ones who completed the course, and you, your neighbor, and your friendly local tv station reporter wouldn't be able to tell who these people were and are in our community. TB is dangerous only when it becomes ACTIVE!!!!! Not when you carry an antibody, nor when you have radiologic cavities in your lung, but the chances are that the disease may activate itself over several years, and by the time this happens, it is harder to treat. This is why we screen and treat LATENT disease.
So, rather than murder this poor man, take out your checkbook and send money to any medical organization that provides medical treatment in the developing countries. We're still losing millions of people of just regular tuberculosis every year in the third world, whether or not you want to admit to that. And that, my dear fellow bloggers, is much more of a threat to mankind, than having sat on this man's lap both ways over the Atlantic, and breathing through the same paper bag would've ever been.

Posted By nonsense on June 4, 2007, 9:19 PM

This is for NONSENSE! The only way a toddler would be more of e threat is if his/her diaper hasn't been changed for 24 hours or so. You try to make it sound like there was no danger to anyone and that you know what you are talking about. Maybe if you actually read the newspaper stories you would see that there is NO ta;l of reguler TB here. They are talking about a strain that is pretty rare, especially in the US. It wasn't worth the risk he took in taking the trip. He sounds to me like he's a self-centered, spoiled little kid that doesn't care who the heck he can spread his disease to. The proper term is "RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT".
As a lawyer he has to know better than to pull the crap that he did. Holding him criminally and financially responsible is the only way scoff-laws can be made to understand that the US (and the World) won't stand for it any more.
As for the border guard that let him back into the US, losing his job is what he deserves. Ignoring an alert doen't sound too wise to me. Maybe it's a lack of training, although I don't think so. Sounds like someone just wanted to get his time in & go home.

Posted By johnnybfan on June 5, 2007, 1:10 AM

I read the Chicago Tribune's account of his explanation and it sounds like he was not told he was contagious until he got the notice in Europe from the CDC. He says the notice was confusing. But it also sounds like he was afraid of being committed to an Italian institution for the rest of his life and flew out of fear. He obviously knew he was doing something wrong....he evaded U.S. officials by flying into Canada and correctly surmised that he could sneak through our borders.

I think a jail term is in order. And what about taking away his passport for the rest of his life.

Posted By KFerg on June 5, 2007, 4:25 PM

No murder - somebody has to pay for all those tests and treatment for anyone who gets sick; who better than an expensive lawyer! Although perhaps he should not be allowed to be a trial lawyer and any consultations should be held behind a glass wall. He should be required to wear one of those bracelets they put on sex offenders, to keep track of where he's at. Put him in an underground concrete house way out in the desert without transportation, only a computer linkup to work with. That would keep his sewage from entering into the water supply.

Don't put him in jail; they're sanitization is absolutely nil. If the stress, poor food, whatever caused his illness to become active, he would spread it through the jail populace who would then spread it to the prison guards and their families, the general populace, etc., etc.

After all, we need to contain him and at the same time, make use of what time he has left. He probably got the disease from traveling illegally without shots or into an area he wasn't supposed to.

Oh, and put GW Bush in there with him.

Posted By Penny Fuller on June 5, 2007, 5:30 PM

Let's see"
Strike one: Knew he had TB
Strike two: Father in law worked for the CDC in the Tuberculosis research area.
Stike three: An attorney that would willing sue anyone else that caused injury to others.

Guilty: Lock him away and attach all current and future assets to pay for the pain and suffering of all the passengers he may have impacted.

Posted By Gene Adams on June 5, 2007, 8:18 PM

What about responsibility?
I am a nurse and a teacher. I teach all of my students that they are responsible for their actions and consequences will result if the action is inappropriate. An educated adult who knowingly travels with this condition, even if the risk of infecting others is small, should be held accountable and be required to pay restitution to the passengers who must now take time away from their jobs to undergo testing and possibly initiate treatment. Do this once and others will think long and hard before attempting something similar.

The Border official who did not follow his instructions or the outlined procedure at the Canadian border because the man "didn't look sick" needs a crash course in Transmission Based Precautions and in doing as directed. There are many individuals who have communicable diseases who don't look ill, but may still infect others if the proper precautions are not taken. I don't recall reading that the Border official had a medical or nursing degree that would enable him to diagnose this condition. Responsibility once again!

Posted By JN on June 5, 2007, 10:48 PM

Nonsense is right on target. The man did not have active disease before the flight and does not have active disease now. It is only contagious when it is active. The reason for the media hype is that XDR TB (extremely drug resistant) is a new phenomenon and doctors aren't quite sure how to guard against it. As always, good handwashing and covering coughs (in our sleeves if nothing else is handy) are the things to remember.

Posted By needleworker on June 6, 2007, 11:05 PM