Saudi Arabia advances 22 ranks in World Bank's Statistical Performance Index    EXPRO chief: Financial proceeds of expenditure efficiency amounted to SR1.15 trillion    Saudi drivers' income from delivery applications reaches SR1.1 billion in first 9 months of 2024    Eng. Aiman Al-Mudaifer appointed Acting CEO of NEOM    Saudi Champion Saeed Al-Mouri scores notable feat in Radical World Championship in Abu Dhabi with support from Bin-Shihon Group    'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' to dazzle audience in Tokyo on Nov. 22    Pakistan PM visits MWL headquarters in Makkah    Riyadh: The hub of wisdom and the pillar of solidarity    Toxic smog in Pakistan is so bad you can see it from space    New Zealand PM says sorry for 'horrific' care home abuse    New arrests made in Amsterdam over violence after football match    Climate fight 'bigger than one election', says Biden's top envoy    Saudi Arabia launches Young Researchers Awards at UNCCD COP16 science pavilion Total prize pool of $70,000 for students and researchers from across the world    Culture minister inspects archaeological sites and cultural projects in Al-Ahsa    Red Sea International Film Festival returns to Al Balad in its fourth edition    Rita Ora is tearful in tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Awards    'Art of the Kingdom': First traveling exhibition of contemporary Saudi art launched in Rio de Janeiro    France to deploy 4,000 police officers for UEFA Nations League match against Israel    Al Nassr edges past Al Riyadh with Mane's goal to move up to third    Al Ahli continues strong form with 2-0 win over Al Raed in Saudi Pro League    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Nurse quarantined over Ebola fears sues Gov. Chris Christie
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 24 - 10 - 2015

A nurse who had contact with Ebola patients in West Africa and was quarantined at a New Jersey hospital when she returned sued Gov. Chris Christie and state health officials on Thursday, saying they illegally held her against her will. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and a New York firm filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in Newark for Kaci Hickox. Besides Christie, the lawsuit names as defendants former state health commissioner Mary O'Dowd and other health department employees.
The lawsuit seeks at least $250,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, and Hickox's lawyers say they hope the case will change a quarantine policy they allege was driven by politics, not by public health concerns. Hickox, 34, was working with Doctors Without Borders in Sierra Leone during last year's Ebola outbreak, which killed thousands of people. When she returned via Newark Liberty International Airport she was stopped, questioned and sent to stay in a tent outside a Newark hospital despite having no symptoms of the disease, which is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person who's showing symptoms.
"I felt like I was being manipulated. I was literally in the dark," Hickox, who lives in Oregon, said at a New York news conference via Skype. "It was so hard. I felt completely alone and completely vulnerable, and I was scared." She said Christie's decision to quarantine her was made out of fear and was politically motivated, although she didn't elaborate. Christie, a Republican, was considering a run for president and has since entered the race. Christie's office isn't commenting on the pending legal matter, a spokesman said.
Christie said last year he was doing his duty to keep people safe. When asked then about a possible lawsuit, he said he's been sued lots of times: "Get in line," he said. "I'm happy to take it on." O'Dowd said she hadn't received the lawsuit and referred questions to the health department, which said it doesn't comment on pending litigation.
Hickox was the first person forced into New Jersey's mandatory quarantine for health care workers who came into contact with Ebola patients after Christie and Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a stronger quarantine policy than federal standards. The White House and medical groups criticized their plan.
Hickox, a Maine resident at the time, said she was questioned in Newark by numerous people including a man who spoke to her "aggressively as if she were a criminal and was wearing a weapon belt."
While she didn't have a fever when her temperature was first taken, she said a medical staffer using a temporal scanner told her she did have a fever. She said that was due to her being flushed from frustration but it led to her being taken to the hospital, escorted by police cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring.
Her lawsuit lays out a series of temperature readings elevated when checked with a temporal thermometer but normal when taken orally. A statement from O'Dowd that night said Hickox was being quarantined because she had developed a fever. The next day, Christie described her as "obviously ill." She said her mom called her, afraid she might be sick because of Christie's comment.
Hickox twice tested negative for Ebola but was kept quarantined for more than two days. She then was driven to Maine, where she decided against following the state's voluntary quarantine. A judge later gave her the OK to go wherever she pleased as long as she continued daily health monitoring. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.