Three Cheers

22 December 2003


Judge Bans Sick from Court Room

Regular readers will know of the antipathy this corner of cyberspace has for the arbitrary and unaccountable judiciary around the world. Yet, when one of them gets it right, fairness demands its acknowledgement. Circuit Judge Gloria Bahakel has a sign up in her courtroom in Jefferson County, Alabama, that tells those with cold and flu symptoms to stay out. Judge Bahakel's example should be common practice.

There is something horribly wrong with a culture that insists that the sick get up and walk around sharing their diseases. No one is indispensable. No one needs to put in extra hours at work with a fever. No one contributes so much to society that a single day spells the end of civilization. Yet, that is the attitude of far too many -- not even the super-achievers, but also of just plain old John Q. Public.

However, there is more to it that just the self-flagellation of working while ill. It also serves to spread the disease. That is of particular importance when one considers that the current flu vaccine is in short supply, that it is not entirely effective and that this year's bug seems to be more severe than in years past. Isolation of the infected person is one of the more useful things that can occur, containing as it does the disease. Quarantine may be low tech, but it works.

The cost of this "noble" self-sacrifice is the infection of others, some of whom would not otherwise be exposed to the disease and who would, therefore, not get ill. Economically, there is a false economy to one person showing up for work ill and infecting 3, 4 or 20 others. Even if they all continue laboring away, they will not be as effective as if they were well.

So, in addition to the Doctor's advice (rest, drink plenty of liquids, take some aspirin for the fever), the entire nation should take the Judge's advice -- stay home.

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