While nurse Kaci Hickox has never been symptomatic and, in fact, tested negative for the Ebola virus, she was temporarily imprisoned in a tent by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Now that Hickox has returned to Maine, Governor Paul LePage (R) says he will seek the legal authority to quarantine her against her will.
“We hoped that the healthcare worker would voluntarily comply with these protocols, but this individual has stated publicly she will not abide by the protocols,” LePage wrote in a statement. “While we certainly respect the rights of one individual, we must be vigilant in protecting 1.3 million Mainers, as well as anyone who visits our great state.”
It is a slippery slope to say that you respect the rights of an individual but their rights may need to be sacrificed for the greater good.
And there is no greater good to be served in this case. Kaci Hickox is not infected with Ebola. She tested negative for the virus and has displayed no symptoms.
Doctors Without Borders, which Hickox is a member of, said it supports her decision.