Nurse Kaci Hickox was released from quarantine Monday, ending a four-day detention that focused the spotlight on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the rights of health care workers and the best way to protect the public from Ebola.
Hickox's detention meant she was confined to an unheated tent, where she was forced to wear paper scrubs and talk with others through a screen. She had no fever, no symptoms and her Ebola test came back negative.
Christie defended the policy last week, arguing it protects the public. "These actions that we are taking jointly today are I believe necessary to protect the public health of the people of New Jersey and New York."
But Hickox was not happy to be the first health care worker forced into isolation. In an editorial for the Dallas News, she wrote, "I am scared for those who will follow me." She also spoke to CNN.
"I completely don’t understand. It is completely not understandable to me. It is not based on any clear public health evidence, and it's not the recommendation of public health experts and medical health experts at this point."
Yet despite her outrage, the American public has been, at best, dismissive of Hickox's plight.
NBC: "So, we did ask the questions and as I mentioned you guys made a strong statement; 94 percent of you say there should be a mandatory quarantine in the United States."
Some, including many on Twitter, are downright angry about her statements and accuse Hickox of being irresponsible and selfish.
But there is at least one place where Hickox is finding some sympathy: the public health community.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI VIA ABC: "First, protect the American public, but do so based on scientific data. ... As a scientist and as a health person, if I were asked I would not have recommended that."
Hundreds of medical workers have returned to the U.S. from West Africa since the outbreak began in March. So far, none of those workers has transmitted the disease to anyone else, and there's no evidence Hickox would have been the first.
But as concerns about an Ebola outbreak at home reach a fever pitch, politicians like Christie will feel more pressure to detain medical workers — even when there's no evidence they're actually sick.
And with or without public support, Hickox's battle against general quarantines is far from over: her lawyers announced they'll be suing Christie over the detainment.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
About the Author
