Georgia State Rep. Betty Price — better half of former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price , who recentlyleft his rolein Donald Trump ’s administration after taking a few too many taxpayer - funded charter flight — nonchalantly asked a state epidemiologist whether it would be more cost - effective to just storm HIV - positive the great unwashed into quarantine .
Per theAtlanta Journal - Constitution , Price ’s phrasing left opened the possibilityshe ’s not thrilledHIV - positivist masses are not fail “ more readily , ” at which point they would pose less of a risk .
“ And I do n’t require to say the quarantine word , but I judge I just say it , ” Price asked Georgia state Department of Public Health HIV epidemiology chief Dr. Pascale Wortley at a subject field committee meeting this week . “ Is there an power , since I would guess that public dollar sign are expended heavily in prophylaxis and treatment of this condition ? ”
“ So we have a public sake in curtail the banquet , ” Price continued . “ What would you advise or are there any method legally that we could do that would restrict the spreading ? ”
Not one to slow down , Price append , “ It seems to me it ’s almost terrible , the number of citizenry who are living that are potentially carrier . Well they are carriers , with the potential to spread , whereas in the past times they died more readily and then at that point they are not vex a risk . So we ’ve got a immense universe pose a risk if they are not in treatment . ”
Wortley , who had just explicate HIV treatment as well as routine medical care remain out of reach for many Georgians , react that the state was already essay to get over the bedspread of the virus and get more people into care . TheAJC reportedGeorgia has the second - highest rate of HIV contagion in the US at 28.3 per 100,000 population in 2015 , and just half are virally stamp down .
Aside from the obvious moral implications — terms was more or less suggest rounding up thedisproportionately LGBTQHIV - positive population — there ’s also the fact that this awful solution would never work . Quarantines are only advised for diseases that can be easily identified , progress quickly and are transmittable enough via transmission methods like effortless physical impinging or the air to pose a risk to the general public , none of which really hold to HIV .
Both of the Prices are physicians , and should presumably be aware of this .
The story of epidemiology is also littered withquarantine revulsion story , and fears that authorities could use quarantine as a pretext toput LGBTQ people in campsare still relevant today .
Tom Price ’s choice as HHS secretarydrew alarmfrom progressive groups , which pointed out his noxious record on brave rightfield is staunchly conservative , and that his efforts torepeal the Affordable Care Actand limit insurance coverage of generative health services could harm LGBTQ biotic community and reduce access to HIV treatment .
“ We involve to emphasize that in this day and age , quarantining is not a useful strategy to control HIV , ” Emory Center for AIDS Research co - director Dr. Carlos del Riotold STAT , add he believed Price ’s intent was misinformed rather than malicious .
“ We need to get public health [ actor ] to find masses , get them into care , keep them in care , and keep them virally inhibit , ” he add . “ If we can keep them virally suppress , we can stop the epidemic . ”
“ When we come into space like this and we hear motion around how legally far can we go to keep apart people or even quarantine the great unwashed , then it just allow you acknowledge that we have a material uphill battle , ” SisterLove executive director Dazon Dixon Diallo toldProject Q Atlanta .
In a responsereleased to the AJC , Price seemingly did not apologize and said her remark were taken out of context :
I made a provocative and rhetorical comment as part of a loose - flowing conversation which has been learn completely out of context . I do not support a quarantine in this public wellness challenge and dilemma of undertreated HIV patients . I do , however , wish to fire up a fire under all of us with duty in the public wellness arena – a fire that will leave in declaration and dedication to assure that all of our fellow citizens with HIV will receive , and adhere to , a handling regime that will enhance their caliber of lifespan and protect the wellness of the public .
Gizmodo has reach out to Price ’s position for comment , and we ’ll update this clause if we hear back .
[ Atlanta Journal - Constitution / Project Q Atlanta ]
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