A Tacoma resident refusing to get treated for tuberculosis (TB) for since late last year has been booked into the Pierce County jail. People can die from TB if they don’t get treatment. And they can expose other people to unnecessary risk of getting TB. TB is deadly and contagious but curable with medication.
Earlier this year, after promising to take her medication or voluntarily isolate herself, she was seen hopping aboard a public bus which she took to the casino. On Friday, Feb. 24, the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department went to court for the 16th time to get her to comply. This is the third time in 20 years the Health Department has had to seek a court order to detain a potentially contagious patient who refused treatment for TB.
On June 1, law enforcement transported the patient to the Pierce County Jail where she will be housed in a room specially equipped for isolation, testing and treatment. The Health Department gave thanks to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and the deputies who supported public health with this necessary intervention.
The Tacoma Sun 