The quarantined groom

[wendalah]

What do you all think of this story? Very interesting.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070530/ap_on_he_me/tuberculosis_infection

[camberne]

I'm annoyed at the man saying "I'm a very well-educated, successful, intelligent person," he told the paper. "This is insane to me that I have an armed guard outside my door when I've cooperated with everything other than the whole solitary-confinement-in-Italy thing."

He knows that TB is contagious, he knows his strain iss drug-resistant... did he wear a face mask when he flew? Did he take any measures to protect the pepole around him? NO!

I certainly hope that none of the people he flew with have been infected by him!!

[wendalah]

Well, in his defense, he says he was not warned against travel--I'm not sure if they imparted to him how contagious he was?

What I find sort of amazing is that he had to feel like shit, yet he still made an international flight for his wedding. I understand weddings are important, especially one's own, but man. Being that sick you'd think they'd postpone the wedding or try to have it at home.

[BethIrish]

Selfish. Idiot.

The man told the Journal-Constitution he was in Rome during his honeymoon when the CDC notified him of the new tests and told him to turn himself in to Italian authorities to be isolated and be treated. The CDC told him he couldn't fly aboard commercial airliners.

"I thought to myself: You're nuts. I wasn't going to do that. They told me I had been put on the no-fly list and my passport was flagged," the man said.

He told the newspaper he and his wife decided to sneak back into the U.S. through Canada. He said he voluntarily went to a New York hospital, then was flown by the CDC to Atlanta.

[jennylou]

Actually, it says he wasn't warned on the trip to his wedding. He was warned while in Italy - was told to turn himself in to Italian authorities to enter isolation. They told him that his passport had been flagged. Instead of doing as instructed, he and his wife decided that he needed the best medical care available - in the US. So, they travelled to Canada and drove in through NY.

[lml41981]

Gosh...I know that there was another thread recently about a man quarantined for Really Bad TB...denied any access to the outside world...treated worse than the prisoners because he violated the terms of a voluntary quarantine.

I felt for him because it seemed like a misunderstanding of the idea of "voluntary quarantine."

This guy...ok...I can maybe forgive the first flight. Maybe he didn't realize just how bad this Really Bad TB was. But the second flight...no way. He specifically violated a governmental order against flying. He should be held liable.

[lml41981]

A ha! I found it...despite it not showing up in searches for "quarantined," "tuberculosis" or "TB."

http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30633

[alisong]

What I find sort of amazing is that he had to feel like shit, yet he still made an international flight for his wedding. I understand weddings are important, especially one's own, but man. Being that sick you'd think they'd postpone the wedding or try to have it at home.It's not actually clear he was feeling particularly unwell. The one quote from the story only says: "The patient continues to feel well and be asymptomatic. He's currently still in isolation," Cetron said Wednesday.

[tlew12778]

Actually, it says he wasn't warned on the trip to his wedding. He was warned while in Italy - was told to turn himself in to Italian authorities to enter isolation. They told him that his passport had been flagged. Instead of doing as instructed, he and his wife decided that he needed the best medical care available - in the US. So, they travelled to Canada and drove in through NY.

See this, to me, seems very manipulative. He KNEW he wouldn't be allowed on a flight to the US so he flies to Canada instead? He was obviously cognizant of the fact that the situation was very serious.

And while I know this is a personal opinion, he could have received the same or better medical care in Europe for TB. We have more current cases here than in the US (source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuberculosis)). I am sure he did not realise that, but given those circumstances, I think it exacerbates the gravity of what he did. It's not as if he *couldn't* be treated here.

[villanelle75]

It's not like he was in some 3rd world country where the hosptials have dirt floors and lack even basic medical supplies. He was in Italy, for goodness sake.

He intentionally risked the lives and well-being of dozens of people, not only on the flight, but in the airports he passed through. I wouldn't think it was much of an over-reaction if they tossed his ass in jail (once he's well, I guess) so to me, he should be counting his lucky starts that all he has is that "insane" armed-guard. Who I ceritnaly hope is being paid by this man, rather than with tax dollars.

[lml41981]

If his passport was flagged, he shouldn't have even been allowed to cross the border from Canada to the US. How did that even happen? Did they even check his passport? What's the point of requiring everyone to have passports to enter the US from Canada or Mexico if they aren't being checked?

[jennylou]

See this, to me, seems very manipulative. He KNEW he wouldn't be allowed on a flight to the US so he flies to Canada instead? He was obviously cognizant of the fact that the situation was very serious.

And while I know this is a personal opinion, he could have received the same or better medical care in Europe for TB. We have more current cases here than in the US (source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuberculosis)). I am sure he did not realise that, but given those circumstances, I think it exacerbates the gravity of what he did. It's not as if he *couldn't* be treated here.

I totally agree that the care he would have received in Italy would have likely been very good. You'd think his "intelligence" would realize that he was in a country with a good health care system.

It's not like he was in some 3rd world country where the hosptials have dirt floors and lack even basic medical supplies. He was in Italy, for goodness sake.

He intentionally risked the lives and well-being of dozens of people, not only on the flight, but in the airports he passed through. I wouldn't think it was much of an over-reaction if they tossed his ass in jail (once he's well, I guess) so to me, he should be counting his lucky starts that all he has is that "insane" armed-guard. Who I ceritnaly hope is being paid by this man, rather than with tax dollars.

ITA that he wasn't in a 3rd world county and that there was no need for him to use shady means to get into the US. I also agree that he should be paying the guard, Dr's, for the flight to the hospital from NY, etc.

[lawyergirl25]

How did that even happen? Did they even check his passport? What's the point of requiring everyone to have passports to enter the US from Canada or Mexico if they aren't being checked?
You don't need a passport to enter the U.S. by land or sea until January 2008. The passport requirement only applies to air travel right now.

[Delta]

It was my understand that all along - even before this trip - he was planning on going to this clinic in Denver that is specialized in TB cases. So, that is probably why he did not want to get put in isolation in Rome. He had a specific place already in mind. Although why he even traveled over there in the first place is beyond me.

Here are my questions -

1) How common is TB in the US and how are patients ususally advised to behave or travel? Apparently he's known he's had it ("regular" TB, not the virulent form of TB) since January. So, what was he doing all that time?

2) If this guy was asymptomatic, how did he even know to get tested?

3) And what I am really wondering - how did this guy get it in the first place?

[imagirliegirl]

He sounds like a real gem. His wife is just as stupid, letting him pull that crap. If my husband wanted to do that he'd be doing it alone.

[Leilynne]

What I find sort of amazing is that he had to feel like shit, yet he still made an international flight for his wedding. I understand weddings are important, especially one's own, but man. Being that sick you'd think they'd postpone the wedding or try to have it at home.
It's possible to carry TB without ever getting sick yourself, also from what I understand (a friend has the disease) the early stages for those who are sick are not that bad.

1) How common is TB in the US and how are patients ususally advised to behave or travel? Apparently he's known he's had it ("regular" TB, not the virulent form of TB) since January. So, what was he doing all that time?

2) If this guy was asymptomatic, how did he even know to get tested?

3) And what I am really wondering - how did this guy get it in the first place?

No idea about 1 and 3 but he may have been tested as part of a job interview process. I had to have the two step skin test before I could start work at the hospital and all our volunteers have to have it as well.

[artist]

Hmm. I definitely can understand all the points all of you are trying to make, but part of me kind of feels bad for the guy. What a great way to start out your newlywed life...quarantined!

[someday soon]

He's in Atlanta now, so we may be getting more news here...to answer some questions...

-according to the CDC, they verbally told him not to fly at his appointments, and drove to his home and business before the trip to personally tell him this (he wasn't at home or the office when they visited, and, as you know, he says they never told him not to fly at the visits)

-the CDC didn't get the lab results indicating the particular strain of TB he had until after he was out of the country (and once they knew, that's what made them try to contact him in Italy)

-his TB was discovered when he had a chest x-ray for an unrelated issue

-he travels extensively in Asia for work and they think that's where he picked it up

[villanelle75]

The guy is a personal injury attorney. I hope if anyone else on the 4 flights he took to get back to the US gets sick, they sue the irresponsible, selfish pants off him.

[philnikki]

The guy is a personal injury attorney. I hope if anyone else on the 4 flights he took to get back to the US gets sick, they sue the irresponsible, selfish pants off him.

ITA with this! It would be fantastic irony. I just really hope no one else ends up sick.

[villanelle75]

It turns out the grooms new FIL is a microbiologist CDC and specializes in...wait for it... the spread of TB and other bacteria.

[msnicolea]

Really selfish--I just hope no one becomes seriously sick. :-(

[mrs_pell]

It turns out the grooms new FIL is a microbiologist CDC and specializes in...wait for it... the spread of TB and other bacteria.

I was just coming in to post that too! From Foxnews.com:
The father-in-law of the 31-year-old man under federal quarantine with a rare and dangerous form of tuberculosis is one of the leading TB researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, FOX News has learned.

TOO WEIRD!!

[philnikki]

Well, I don't believe in coincidences...I wonder if he really picked this up in Asia??

[diam124]

If his passport was flagged, he shouldn't have even been allowed to cross the border from Canada to the US. How did that even happen? Did they even check his passport? What's the point of requiring everyone to have passports to enter the US from Canada or Mexico if they aren't being checked?

I read that they did check his passport and it did raise a flag, but he was allowed to enter anyway. The border agent has since been fired.

[sea74]

The father-in-law of the 31-year-old man under federal quarantine with a rare and dangerous form of tuberculosis is one of the leading TB researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, FOX News has learned.
TOO WEIRD!!
Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it? Maybe the FIL didn't want him to marry is DD and did something. ;)

[msnicolea]

Glad to see the border patrol is really cracking down--awesome! Guess if you are a white male of some apparent wealth, rules don't apply to you!

[jesvet]

Glad to see the border patrol is really cracking down--awesome! Guess if you are a white male of some apparent wealth, rules don't apply to you!

Despite his being a self incubating biological weapon. Niiiiiiice.

I wonder what the FIL thinks of his new relative. And I hope to God that he wasn't infectious while travelling, and that there were no babies, elderly or otherwised immunosuppressed individuals in the vicinity. SELFISH, selfish, selfish.

[westamp]

I read in this am's paper that the guy found out he had TB when he fell and broke a rib and they did x-rays. The x-rays indicated TB. The hospital ran another test that confirmed that he had the so called hard to kill TB (antibiotic resistant).

F--ing self A--hole should be locked up and disbarred. He is using his atty skills (what does "don't go" really mean? yada yada) to get out of any liability this may cause. This am's paper did say the CDC recommended that he not travel. I guess they should have used stronger language like, you stay in your house, you dumb F---K!

I personally hope he rots in jail for this. I'm glad the border patrol guy got fired. It's true, they don't check your passport if you drive in. It only goes to show that that dumb f---k (sorry but I am very angry about this selfish idiot) knew he wasn't suppose to travel yet he openly disobeyed the govt and tried to evade them. His wife should be charged as an accessory as well.

[jh124]

Now that the groom's father and FIL are speaking out about this, any odds on when the divorce will be announced?

OTOH, I can put myself in the bride's shoes and say, "they said you shouldn't travel, not that you can't. I want to go on our honeymoon!!"

[westamp]

They interviewed the FIL on MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18960857/):

“I’m hoping and praying that he’s getting the proper treatment, that my daughter is holding up mentally and physically,” Cooksey said. “Had I known that my daughter was in any risk, I would not allow her to travel.”

Notice the deliberate wording? Of course she can be at risk! She's with him 24/7 after the wedding and during the honeymoon. He also went on to say that he gave the dumbnut atty a "fatherly talk" after he found out about the diagnosis but before the dumbnut flew to Italy. Geez, dad, did that include don't travel?

[Delta]

http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/abc_SAWYER_DEBRIEF3_070531_ms.jpg

He's kinda cute in a grown-up fratty kind of way.

Diane Sawyer interviewed him for tomorrow's GMA.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=3231184&page=1

[lml41981]

He married Paris Hilton?!?! :p

[Rose]

He married Paris Hilton?!?!

*snort*

He kinda looks like Harry Connick Jr.

[diam124]

I guess the father-in-law was not present at their wedding. I believe they got married overseas and the FIL has said he wasn't aware that they were going to keep their travel plans.

[IrishEyes]

The TB strain that this man has does not match any that his FIL works on in his laboratory.

From this link (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/01/health/main2873659.shtml):

Speaker, his new wife and her 8-year-old daughter were already in Europe for the wedding when the CDC contacted him and told him to turn himself in immediately at a clinic there and not take another commercial flight.

Speaker said he felt as if the CDC had suddenly "abandoned him." He said he believed if he did not get back to a specialized clinic in Denver, he would die.


Um, I really don't feel that bad for you. You just found out you had TB, something that gets passed to other people by aerosol molecules, and you get on an airplane with others where everyone is subjected to circulated air for the duration of the flight. I understand it was your wedding and honeymoon, but still.

I wish the CDC or Georgia Health officials had been a little more aggressive in suggesting that he not travel.

As a result, the U.S. border inspector who allowed Speaker back into the country, disregarding a computer warning to stop the man and don protective gear, has been removed from border duty, officials said Thursday.

Supposedly, the border guard thought the guy looked healthy, so he allowed him to pass.

[jenjen0713]

Supposedly, the border guard thought the guy looked healthy, so he allowed him to pass.

Wow, I feel so safe, not only is our border guards doing a great job protecting our borders, but they are also board certified medical doctors. :rolleyes:

This whole story p*sses me off! Selfish, arrogant a$$hole! What a dumb idiot to allow pictures of yourself be published. Can you just imagine how his face is now going to be splashed all over the media? If he ever gets out of quarantine, I am 99% certain, he will have a hard time showing his face in public again without the fear of getting the living cr@p beat out of him.

Oh, and the FIL saying he didn't think his daughter was at risk??? Uh, hello, you work for the CDC specializing in TB, you should know that TB is contagious. I think he is full of cr@p and just trying to cover his own a$$.

[msnicolea]

I seriosuly want to punch him in the neck. He is so arrogant.

[ejs]

I'm watching the guy on GMA now. They said that his FIL did go to the wedding. The groom says that he was told he wasn't contagious. Who doesn't think that TB is contagious? If his dad taped the conversation with the CDC, why haven't we heard it?

I think this man is incredibly selfish.

[Delta]

OK, here's what I am thinking. The FIL is not an idiot. I'm pretty sure he had a lot to do with telling them that he wasn't contagious and I'm pretty sure that he isn't because why else would the guy be OK with him marrying his daughter and going off on a honeymoon? It does seem the CDC was trying to cover themselves by advising him not to travel. They they *really* freaked out when the results came back and they told him to turn himself into the Italian authorities. He was told that 1) he had a deadly disease that could only be treated in Denver and 2) he had to turn himself over to the Italians and was basically on his own and 3) his own FIL who was an expert in said disease didn't feel he was a risk. I can somewhat see where he is coming from. What would have done though is gotten a private jet (doable for them) or gone to the Embassy.

[IrishEyes]

This might be slightly OT, but I think with the worries over pandemic flu and possible terrorist 'attacks' using biologics, this episode might be a catalyst in giving the government more power for quarantines, etc.

[msnicolea]

IrishEyes--your avatar is KILLING me--too cute!!!

[eli1126]

I don't know anything about TB and am wondering will he ever get better? Or once you have TB do you have it for life? And if he gets better, the skin test will always be positive right?

[lawyerlee]

I seriosuly want to punch him in the neck. He is so arrogant.
My thoughts exactly. What a total twit. :mad:

[AttyGrl74]

He's here in Denver now at National Jewish Hospital so it has been all over the news.

I have been trying to figure out if a individual who contracted it from his travels after Italy would have a legal cause of action against him.

[lml41981]

He's here in Denver now at National Jewish Hospital so it has been all over the news.

I have been trying to figure out if a individual who contracted it from his travels after Italy would have a legal cause of action against him.
I am not a lawyer, so I'm totally talking out of my ass...but wasn't there a case where a man with HIV intentionally had sex with people who didn't know he had HIV and he was charged with something like attempted murder or murder for each person he slept with?

I dunno what jurisdiction it would fall under if they did have legal cause of action against him...Italian? Canadian? US?

[IrishEyes]

Thanks, msnicolea! DS got a haircut just after I got a picture of that post-bath faux-hawk.

You can have a TB infection or TB disease. I would guess, since this guy had a spot on his lungs, he had the beginnings of TB disease, though they say his sputum did not have any detectable TB in it, so the chance that he was infectious was low. He was also asymptomatic. Standard TB treatment appears to be 6-9 months long. I've read that this guy's treatment may be longer, and I'm sure that depends on how his TB reacts to treatment and if they find the right combo of antibiotics for his strain.

But yes, he will always test positive for TB if he has a skin test done.

An informative website (http://www.cdc.gov/TB/faqs/default.htm)on TB.

[IrishEyes]

This NYTimes article (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/us/31tb.html) has some interesting info about this case:

That process and additional testing to determine to which antibiotics might be effective can take weeks, even months. But some doctors not connected with the case questioned why four months passed between the X-rays and the letter from the health department.

At some point he began taking standard medication for the treatment of tuberculosis, but it was stopped because it was not effective, Dr. Cetron said.

Repeated subsequent smear tests of the man’s sputum performed at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan and at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta were negative. Those findings suggest a low chance that the man transmitted the infection to others. But in 17 percent of tuberculosis cases the source is a patient whose smear is negative, according to studies from Vancouver, British Columbia, and from San Francisco.

[westamp]

Tuberculosis Patient Asks for Forgiveness (http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/health-tuberculosis-scare-airplane/20070529152509990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001)

Officials told him they would prefer he didn't fly, but no one ordered him not to, he said. Speaker said his father, also a lawyer, taped that meeting.

"My father said, 'OK, now are you saying, prefer not to go on the trip because he's a risk to anybody, or are you simply saying that to cover yourself?' And they said, we have to tell you that to cover ourself, but he's not a risk."

Asked about the apology, Vik said, "People have to still remember that this is going to affect us for the next five, 10 years of our lives because we're going to have to keep getting tests even if we're negative just because we were on the plane with this guy."

Selfish A$$hole. They said he can be cured. Good, I want him to live to pay off those people who sat around him on the planes. They can sue for mental distress!

[Pghchic]

The whole thing is nuts to me I think he should be thrown in Jail. It seems so strange that his father in law is a expert with it and knowing that you would still fly and expose all the other people.

[Secret_Squirrel]

though they say his sputum did not have any detectable TB in it

I thought TB was spread through infected bodily fluids and sputum during a cough. If his sputum was TB negative, how would he have spread the disease?

[Sophia]

Mayor casts doubt on TB patient's Greek wedding
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/06/01/tb.flight/index.html

[alisong]

I thought TB was spread through infected bodily fluids and sputum during a cough. If his sputum was TB negative, how would he have spread the disease?It's spread only by aerosolized particles. As my infectious disease prof used to say, you could eat sputum from at TB patient and be in very little danger of becoming infected. :eek:

[Secret_Squirrel]

It's spread only by aerosolized particles. As my infectious disease prof used to say, you could eat sputum from at TB patient and be in very little danger of becoming infected. :eek:

ew. just ew.

But I'm not sure if the idea of inhaling someone else's aerosolized particles is much better.

[Delta]

His side of the story, from Newsweek.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18991217/site/newsweek/page/0/

Sounds to me like, as I said earlier, the CDC was and is playing CYA. I feel for the guy and his wife. I can't say I wouldn't have tried to avoid the Italian medical lock-up myself, especially if I felt like the US government was abandoning me and I didn't have the money (right then and there) for a plane. But, I probably would have gone to the US Embassy the next morning.

[westamp]

TB Patient's Father-in-Law to Be Investigated (http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/health-tuberculosis-scare-airplane/20070529152509990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001)

A federal microbiologist , the father-in-law of the man quarantined with a drug-resistant form of tuberculosis , will be investigated to see how he was involved in the case, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday.

Despite warnings from federal health officials not to board another long flight, Speaker flew back for treatment, fearing he wouldn't survive if he didn't reach the U.S., he has said. He said he tried to sneak home by way of Canada instead of flying directly into the U.S.

I for one do not feel this idiot was unfairly criticized of censured. TB is not contagious? Really? Tell that to the settlers in the 1800's. If this idiot studied US history or even read references about TB, he would have found out that it is highly contagious.

So I give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn't know he was contagious when he left but when he tried to come back, he most certainly did. This "I can die any minute in Rome!?!?!" is bullcrap. Puleaze, TB used to be commonly known as the "wasting disease." Yup, that means people sort of waste away slowly. You will not die any minute now, you idiot. At least he wouldn't die for the time it took him to reach the US Embassy in Rome. Sneaking into the States via Canada is grounds enough for those poor people on the plane to sue his ass off. While they're at it, they can sue faux Paris' dad (Mr. Cooksey) also for giving him "fatherly advice" that didn't include the basic facts of TB. BTW, what the hell is fatherly advice? How to put on a condum?

[alisong]

I for one do not feel this idiot was unfairly criticized of censured. TB is not contagious? Really? Tell that to the settlers in the 1800's. If this idiot studied US history or even read references about TB, he would have found out that it is highly contagious.Surprisingly, TB really isn't that contagious, at least compared to, say, mealses or polio. If this guy was repeatedly found to be sputum negative, it's highly, highly unlikely he could have infected anyone. I worked with TB patients (90% of whom were also HIV infected, and most of whom were sputum positive) for a year without wearing a mask, and I'm still uninfected.

I still think this guy was an irresponsible idiot for taking a flight back to the US after he'd been ordered not to. ;)

[jen]

I apologize if this question has been answered already, but how the heck did this guy GET TB to begin with??

[villanelle75]

They think he got it on one of his many business trips to Asia or somewhere else.

[westamp]

TB patient parents ‘in hell’ over son’s situation (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19026596/)

But he stressed that such a finding would not mean Speaker cannot transmit the disease, saying the bacteria could still grow in Speaker’s lungs and sputum.

While many people were outraged by Speaker’s actions, his father didn’t seemed worried when asked about possibly being served with a lawsuit over the case.

“If they want to serve me go ahead,” Ted Speaker said. “I am not at fault. My son is not at fault.”

That smacks of arrogance to me. Well I guess the people who will be going through years of testing because of this idiot can go ahead and sue...

[ejs]

With all the flack these people are getting from everyone, I don't understand why the father won't release the audiotape he supposedly made when they met with the CDC.

[Dally]

EJS said: With all the flack these people are getting from everyone, I don't understand why the father won't release the audiotape he supposedly made when they met with the CDC.

I think it's because he made the tape illegally (he taped the meeting without the knowledge of the other party). My guess is he is getting legal advice on how to deal with the situation.

[westamp]

I think it's because he made the tape illegally (he taped the meeting without the knowledge of the other party). My guess is he is getting legal advice on how to deal with the situation.

Exactly. You have to let parties know that you are taping them before you do it. Since he did this illegally, he should be lucky the government doesn't bring up charges of illegal taping. BTW, they didn't talk to CDC. They talked to the county health department. CDC got involved when that idiot was in Rome and told him to stay where he was...

[lml41981]

I think it's because he made the tape illegally (he taped the meeting without the knowledge of the other party). My guess is he is getting legal advice on how to deal with the situation.
I learned once before that some states are one-party consent states, so only one party of the conversation has to consent.

Georgia is a one-party consent state, so the recording isn't illegal (I think they said he lives in Georgia), as far as I'm aware.

[villanelle75]

It's not the travel to Europe that I have a problem with and that is what the recorded conversation seems to be about. It's the travel from Italy, when he was specifically told NOT to travel, that has me thinking thi sdude is a selfish, arrogant bastard.

[Dally]

villanelle75--yes, exactly!

lml--I didn't realize that about Georgia. So why isn't he releasing the tapes? Hm.

[westamp]

TB traveler’s family was of little help to officials (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19191207/)

Health officials trying to stop a globe-trotting honeymooner with a dangerous form of tuberculosis got little assistance from his lawyer father and his future father-in-law, a TB expert who not only balked at stopping the Greek wedding but went to the ceremony himself, according to e-mails obtained by The Associated Press.

Some of the 181 pages of e-mails, obtained through a public records request, suggest that the 31-year-old groom’s father, Ted Speaker, was clipped and combative in phone conversations with health officials.

Well well well. It looks like the dads are as stupid as the groom...
The CDC instructed Cooksey (FIL) to put a halt to the wedding but he didn't do it. I guess he didn't want to burst his daughter's bubble...:rolleyes:

[IrishEyes]

TB Patient to have surgery in July (http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/06/14/tb.surgery/index.html)

Andrew Speaker and his physicians have decided that the 31-year-old lawyer who is infected with drug-resistant tuberculosis should undergo surgery to remove infected and damaged lung tissue.

The infected area, about the size of a tennis ball, is in the right upper lobe of the lungs, the statement said.

[Sophia]

Medical officials at odds over TB traveler's diagnosis (http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/03/tb.speaker/index.html) CNN.com

A Denver hospital is expected to announce Tuesday that it has diagnosed Andrew Speaker -- the Atlanta lawyer whose travels while suffering from tuberculosis drew international attention -- with a more treatable form of the disease than the extensively drug-resistant form previously diagnosed, CNN has learned.

*snip*

At the afternoon news conference, the CDC will stand by its diagnosis, CDC sources told CNN. Both the CDC and Jewish Medical Center will discuss the different diagnoses.

"His doctors say he doesn't have XDR-TB," said the CDC source.

[kindermom]

Regardless of the strain, the man and his families are complete jerks.

[Secret_Squirrel]

Not only was it not the extreme drug-resistant TB and no surgery is necessary, but hospital officials said Mr. Speaker was not especially contagious and that it was very unlikely that he had infected anyone else on the trip.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/03/health/03cnd-tb.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

[Niobe]

I shouldn't laugh.

I guess it really actually WAS to his benefit to make it to that specialty hospital. Now he gets some drugs instead of part of his lungs cut out.

[westamp]

Nine file $1.3 million suit against TB patient (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19734910/)

"They do not have tuberculosis, but nobody can say that they won't have tuberculosis either," Nguyen said of his clients. "And that will not be known, not now, not next year, but for many years in the future, so the pain and suffering that the people have gone through are real. They continue to suffer now because of the uncertainty."

Nassim Tabri sat one row in front of Speaker. Tabri, a 26-year-old Montreal graduate student, found out about his possible exposure when a reporter called him after news of the incident broke last month.

He is seeking $134,900 — the highest amount sought among the nine plaintiffs, mostly for pain, suffering and "loss of opportunities."

Well this was bound to happen. The lawsuit was actually filed by Canadians who flew into NY w/ the dummy from Montreal. I don't feel sorry for the groom. He's a personal injury attorney. If his client was in the same situation, he'd file a lawsuit on his behalf as well.

Yes, he doesn't have the XTB but he has TB and those poor people who sat with him has to be tested for who knows how long!:rolleyes:

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

I don't know, I think that's pretty ridiculous. I mean, should I sue the parents of the kid with the runny nose sitting next to me? Should I sue the guy on the train with the cough?
What is a minor cold for them could turn into pneumonia for me. Does that really mean I should sue for it?
Although I can certainly understand being irritated and a bit pissy, I think they should get over it. The guy was told he didn't pose a risk to others.

[westamp]

I don't know, I think that's pretty ridiculous. I mean, should I sue the parents of the kid with the runny nose sitting next to me? Should I sue the guy on the train with the cough?
What is a minor cold for them could turn into pneumonia for me. Does that really mean I should sue for it?
Although I can certainly understand being irritated and a bit pissy, I think they should get over it. The guy was told he didn't pose a risk to others.

I think the issue is these people have to live with the uncertainty of whether they will get TB (who knows how long testing is suppose to be). TB is different from the common cold.

And come on, you know as a personal injury atty, that dummy would be like white on rice to file a lawsuit too if the tables were turned.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

And come on, you know as a personal injury atty, that dummy would be like white on rice to file a lawsuit too if the tables were turned.
Okay, but doesn't that just mean that it'd be better not to use him as a model for your own conduct?

[boilermaker]

If I recall correctly, Speaker drove from Montreal to NY, so these people must have been on the plane from Italy.

Quite honestly, I'd be ok with other passengers seeking monetary reimbursement for continual coverage of TB testing (to insure they don't have it), but other then that, totally bogus. What "loss of opportunity" has that guy sufferred? He's just looking for easy money. All of us are exposed to who knows what when we travel, go to work, live ouside a contamination free bubble.

[Sophia]

He's having surgery after all.

AURORA, Colorado (CNN) -- The Atlanta lawyer diagnosed with tuberculosis, who caused an international health scare after traveling to Europe and back, was undergoing surgery Tuesday to remove the diseased portion of one of his lungs.

*snip*

When the infected portion of the lung is cut out, it will be placed inside a bag while still inside the attorney's chest cavity and the bag will be sealed.

"The goal is not to release any of that tuberculosis bacteria into the operating room, into the rest of the hospital, trying to keep everyone safe," Gupta said on CNN's "American Morning."

*snip*

Speaker said it was his decision to have the surgery, which is just one of his treatment options.



read full article (http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/17/speaker.surgery/index.html)

[wendalah]

I am mean, but this guy just bugs me (Speaker). I can't feel sympathetic toward him because his smug face just rubs me the wrong way. I know, not very rational of me.

[Sophia]

He has that asswipe-frat boy-Scott Peterson look going.

[jajacobsen]

I would think after a period of time, with repeat testing, the other passengers could be definitively dtermined to have caught - or not - TB. If all prove negative, I do not think it is moral or ethical to pursue monetary compensation. Actual costs of testing, including travel costs and a reasonable amount for time incurred would be the most acceptable for me; What Speaker does for a living is irellevant.

ETA - fixed my caps problem.

ETA2 - I don't like him much either.

[Delta]

He has that asswipe-frat boy-Scott Peterson look going.Ok, what Speaker did was probably not the smartest thing, but I wouldn't go so far as to compare him to a murderer.

[wendalah]

Ok, what Speaker did was probably not the smartest thing, but I wouldn't go so far as to compare him to a murderer.

Yes, clearly he loves his wife, since he flew overseas while sick for their stupid destination wedding. :rolleyes: I'll be a prick and admit the wife bugs me too. She looks high-maintenance. (In whiny voice) Andrew, you have to get on that plane, it's my WEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDING.

Sorry, just extrapolating a bit :D

[westamp]

Yes, clearly he loves his wife, since he flew overseas while sick for their stupid destination wedding. :rolleyes: I'll be a prick and admit the wife bugs me too. She looks high-maintenance. (In whiny voice) Andrew, you have to get on that plane, it's my WEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDING.

Sorry, just extrapolating a bit :D

Yes Barbie is high maintenance because she even got Daddy Dearest (a CDC employee specializing in TB no less!) to go along with this idiocy.

[Sophia]

TB-infected lawyer released from hospital (http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/07/26/tb.speaker/index.html) CNN.com