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Title: CDC Seeks Controversial New Quarantine Powers (72 hrs without approval)
Source:
NPR
URL Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/health- ... ntine-powers-to-stop-outbreaks
Published: Feb 2, 2017
Author: Rob Stein
Post Date: 2017-02-02 15:41:58 by Hondo68
Keywords: greatly enhanced powers, new r, fever, headache, cramps, definition of ill, wider swath
Views: 4226
Comments: 11
CDC Seeks Controversial New Quarantine Powers To Stop Outbreaks Under the old rules, the CDC's authority was primarily limited to detaining travelers entering the U.S. or crossing state lines. With the new rules, the CDC would be able to detain people anywhere in the country, without getting approval from state and local officials. Federal health officials may be about to get greatly enhanced powers to quarantine people, as part of an ongoing effort to stop outbreaks of dangerous contagious diseases. The new powers are outlined in a set of regulations the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published late last month to update the agency's quarantine authority for the first time since the 1940s. The outlined changes are being welcomed by many health lawyers, bioethicists and public health specialists as providing important tools for protecting the public. But the CDC's increased authority is also raising fears that the rules could be misused in ways that violate civil liberties. The update was finalized at the end of the Obama administration and was scheduled to go into effect Feb. 21. But the Trump administration is reviewing the changes as part of its review of new regulations. So the soonest the changes could go into effect has been pushed to the end of March. Under the old rules, the CDC's authority was primarily limited to detaining people entering the country or crossing state lines. The agency was also limited to quarantining people who had one of about a dozen diseases, including cholera, diphtheria, tuberculosis, plague, smallpox and yellow fever. Yet even then, the CDC rarely exercised these powers and generally deferred to state and local health officials. With the new rules, the CDC would be able to detain people anywhere in the country without getting approval from state and local officials. The agency could also apprehend people to assess their health if they are exhibiting medical problems such as a high fever, headache, cramps and other symptoms that could be indicative of a dangerous infectious disease. "Because of the breadth and scope of the definition of ill persons, CDC can target a much wider swath of persons to assess and screen," says James Hodge Jr., a professor of public health law and ethics at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Hodge says the new rules are "really necessary," given the potential threat that infectious diseases pose. Some others who have studied the issue agree. "The CDC has been operating its infectious disease powers under really antiquated regulations," says Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University. But other attorneys say they fear the new rules give the CDC too much power — with insufficient safeguards to protect an individual's rights. "It could represent a great danger to Americans' health and civil liberties," says Wendy Parmet, a health policy lawyer at Northeastern University. For example, she says, the rules would allow the CDC to hold someone in quarantine for 72 hours before their case is subject to review. And that review would be conducted by the CDC itself instead of an outside, objective entity. "The concern," Parmet says, "is that unless these regulations are carried out with care, and by people who [base their actions] on science, they can be used to trammel the civil liberties of Americans." Parmet is especially concerned that the CDC's enhanced powers would take effect just as the Trump administration is assuming control over the agency. "A lot of the signals we've received from President Trump suggests he may be inclined to not always listen to the science," Parmet says, "and to ground policy in what I guess we're now calling 'alternative facts,' instead of scientific facts. That's scary." When contacted by NPR, officials at the federal Department of Health and Human Services would only confirm that the new rules are under review; they declined further comment. NPR also contacted the CDC, but the agency has not made anyone available to discuss the new quarantine powers. Poster Comment: Quarantine if you look bad, pale? Officers discretion. 
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#1. To: The Rest of the Story (#0)
"My worst fear is we have a replay of Ebola and we have, say, President Trump assert the policy he thought we ought to have when he was citizen Trump," says Scott Burris, a professor of law at Temple University. During the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Burris points out, Trump tweeted that American health workers who got sick while treating victims should be prevented from returning to the United States for medical care. Some public health specialists fear the CDC's new powers could backfire on efforts to prevent disease. For example, some sick people might hide their symptoms for fear of being detained. "The worst-case scenario is that people may try to evade these procedures by, say, taking medicines to reduce their fever, or be afraid to report it if they are feeling ill on a plane," says Jennifer Nuzzo, a research epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "We don't want to drive cases underground by putting measures in place that seem as though they carry some penalties associated with them," Nuzzo says. Gostin agrees that the rules are imperfect and that quarantining anyone is a very serious step. "It's really a quite, I would say, draconian public health measure," he says. "The most draconian measure, because it allows you to literally imprison somebody who you don't know for sure is a danger to the public." But quarantines also can be key to stopping an outbreak, Gostin says. He believes the new rules give the CDC much-needed flexibility. "We know that the United States is vulnerable to a whole range of infectious diseases that are circulating around the world," Gostin says. "But we don't know which one will be next. And so when something sweeps up on our shores, we don't want to have delay and have political debate." While he agrees the civil liberties protections in the new regulations should be even stronger, Gostin argues they're better than relying on the protections in the old rules. The new president is a self-described "germophobe," Gostin notes. "If you're a germophobe, then you're going to overreact and the last thing we want in the face of a public health crisis is overreaction," he says. "And I think having rules in place that are modern at least will provide some buffer against the whims of an administration that may overreact." But quarantines also can be key to stopping an outbreak, Gostin says. He believes the new rules give the CDC much-needed flexibility. "We know that the United States is vulnerable to a whole range of infectious diseases that are circulating around the world," Gostin says." And with so many people jumping around from country to country, where they can be exposed to A to Z diseases, and spread it so rapidly, it is a legitimate concern. If precautions are not taken, and something like Bubonic Plague is spread and millions are wiped out, just because some do gooder snow flake wants to globe trot, then what? Just tell the families of the dead " too bad ", " tuff shit "? This is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. My medical knowledge is very limited. If you are trying to quarantine people with a common flue, that is one thing. But if you are quarantining people that have been exposed / contracted something serious like Ebola, Bubonic Plague, or some other disease that could kill millions, ( think of the movie " Outbreak " only for real.) Then I would think it would be prudent / wise to err on the side of caution! Si vis pacem, para bellum Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."Theodore Roosevelt-1907. I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur
And with so many people jumping around from country to country, where they can be exposed to A to Z diseases, and spread it so rapidly, it is a legitimate concern. Modern medicine and antibiotics encourage diseases to evolve and become more nasty. It's been said that eventually antibiotics will become worthless, because super germs will be able to beat them. The latest super bug from China will be on your local Wal-Marx shelves within a few days. Thank the globalists! People should be required to be quarantined for 10 days before they can enter the US. WHY NOT? If it saves one child, it doesn't matter the cost.
Exercising rights is only radical to two people, Tyrants and Slaves. Which are YOU? Our ignorance has driven us into slavery and we do not recognize it.
People should be required to be quarantined for 10 days before they can enter the US Perhaps arrivals from some place where there's a nasty epidemic, but it should be a very rare thing. Someone going to Canada to shop probably doesn't need a quarantine coming back to the US. I'd extend this quarantine to a full week for KooKs.
It was a sarcastic reply based upon the words of the liberals. On the other hand, foreigners do not deserve the same rights as Americans especially when they are in a foreign land wanting to come here.
Exercising rights is only radical to two people, Tyrants and Slaves. Which are YOU? Our ignorance has driven us into slavery and we do not recognize it.
Stone, please give this poster a non libtard cigar for posting the most fitting sentence this week. I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
If we build a border wall, those anti-American germs won't dare cross it! It seems a little sad that everything has become so politicized that you can't even discuss rudiments of quarantine policy without riling up half of the public.
Think of the case of a biologic attack.
Yep. That would be an example of an event that could cause many, many casualties, or deaths. Some will put forth myriad arguments why placing a quarantine is wrong, violates their rights, etc. So what? To protect their rights, could put millions at risk of losing their life! That is why I said we should err on the side of caution. If the snowflakes don't like it, if they want to play with venomous snakes, tuff shit! Si vis pacem, para bellum Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."Theodore Roosevelt-1907. I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur
#2. To: hondo68 (#1)
" Gostin agrees that the rules are imperfect and that quarantining anyone is a very serious step. "It's really a quite, I would say, draconian public health measure," he says. "The most draconian measure, because it allows you to literally imprison somebody who you don't know for sure is a danger to the public."
#3. To: Stoner (#2)
#4. To: hondo68 (#0)
#5. To: jeremiad (#4)
WHY NOT?
#6. To: hondo68 (#0)
#7. To: hondo68 (#5)
#8. To: jeremiad, A K A Stone (#7)
foreigners do not deserve the same rights as Americans
#9. To: hondo68 (#0)
#10. To: Stoner, hondo68 (#2)
My medical knowledge is very limited. If you are trying to quarantine people with a common flue, that is one thing. But if you are quarantining people that have been exposed / contracted something serious like Ebola, Bubonic Plague, or some other disease that could kill millions, ( think of the movie " Outbreak " only for real.)
#11. To: nolu chan (#10)
" Think of the case of a biologic attack. "
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