Originally Posted by
RhinoPherret
Dr. Keith Raymond| Family Medicine 38
"I worked in Liberia last year. I learned more about Tropical Medicine in six months there than an ID doc learns in four years. It is entirely unclear and contra intuitive as to why the CDC considered importing a lethal disease into the US when their staff could assist the patient in Liberia. It defies their own policy. The Humanitarian missions by religious groups in the US is begrudged in Liberia out of poverty. This self aggrandizement doesn't have a lasting impact on Liberians. I spent my time teaching local staff and found that assistance to be more valuable than the direct care I provided. Again it confounds me that the TSA would allow someone with an untreatable illness to enter the US (short of supportive care). Placing the population at risk for an individual is a disservice to the community. There is wrong, then there is wrong, and then there is this."
Hmm, pretty sure the TSA tries to protect us (the flying public) from terrorists getting on/using/attacking airlines, not private jets flying into the US, that's usually Custom's area of responsibility.
In an case, it's not an "untreatable" illness, they are treating it, they may even have a cure or treatment that can allow the body to get the upper hand. I remember at first there wasn't enough of the serum for both doctors, so the younger guy deferred to the older lady and made sure she got it. It seems now they've both been treated.
As to "why bring them to the US", seriously? There are some pretty good hospitals, but in the 3rd world it's probably a lot easier to bring a patient to the US rather than bring the sophisticated monitoring equipment and sterile environment to him. Although they might be able to get similar results "in place", I'm sure they are much more certain of their ability to control the environment and treatment here in the US, hence, why they did that.
Once again, someone's been watching too many "Outbreak"-style movies.
