MONTREAL MAN FACES JAIL FOR REFUSING TB TREATMENT
WebPosted Wed Nov 29 22:35:43 2000

MONTREAL--Public health officials in Quebec are taking extraordinary 
steps to protect the public from a man who refuses treatment for his 
tuberculosis. 

 Officials want a 26-year-old Montreal man, diagnosed with the deadly 
disease over a year ago, imprisoned until treatment is finished. 

 Doctors at Montreal's infectious-disease unit fear that if Victor-Miguel 
Sabastien-Rosales isn't treated, a particularly resistant strain of 
tuberculosis will kill him or spread to others. 

 

 The disease is spread through tiny drops of saliva when the carrier 
talks or coughs and it is extremely contagious. 

 A spokesperson for the public health office said on Tuesday that 
imprisoning people who don't take their medication is a very unusual 
step to take. 

 "It's extremely, extremely rare," said John Carsley of Montreal's Public 
Health Department. 

 John Carsley 

 "I can't remember in the past 15 or 20 years that I've been involved in 
public health in Montreal ever having to go so far," he said. 

 Officials at public health have filed a request in Quebec Superior 
Court. They will ask a judge on Thursday to find Sabastien-Rosales in 
contempt of court for refusing to take medication despite two court 
orders last year. 

 The request asks a judge to keep the Montrealer in jail for up to eight 
months. 

 Quebec's medical officers must report every case of tuberculosis, 
smallpox and some venereal diseases. Health laws in the province say 
people with those diseases can be forced into treatment. 

 Statements filed with the court say Sabastien-Rosales was stopped two 
weeks ago for drunk driving and "during his arrest, the man spat in the 
face of one of the ambulance attendants who was taking him to the 
hospital. 

 "Considering his medical record, that created some emotion among the 
police officers present," read the court documents. 

 Health officials say in the court papers that Sabastien-Rosales has a 
highly resistant strain of pulmonary tuberculosis &#150 a strain that 
needs special medication and takes longer to heal. 

 Officials say Sabastien-Rosales has taken enough medication that he's 
currently not contagious. 

 But tuberculosis patients can become contagious again if they don't 
complete their treatment. 

 
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