An Editorial on Ebola Quarantines

Also posted to my Tumblog.
I'm going to share my opinion on ebola worker and incoming West African traveler quarantines because I see things in my feeds and there are lots of messages about this going on.
Neither Dr. Spencer or Amber Vinson violated any of the official guidelines that were given to them by other doctors with MSF and the CDC. Dr. Spencer followed the rules precisely and summoned the proper authorities the moment he spiked a fever. He wasn't symptomatic and therefore contagious before that point. Ms. Vinson immediately notified the CDC when she noticed her temperature climbing (before she actually had a fever) and followed their directives as well. Hers was actually caught extremely early due to her vigilance as evidenced by her going home today.
Also, I do expect a little common curtsey from U.S. Customs and airport staff particularly in a situation like this where the person isn't accused of any wrong doing whatsoever. I honestly also expect a little medical training, common sense, and evenhandedness (not power trippers) so they can do their jobs properly, especially since they are being paid by our tax dollars. Actually, I'd expect a nurse on duty or call at all times for what we pay. I most certainly would also expect a lot more organization and some plans in place for all the deficits our government has run up over the years. All that money we spent and no ebola contingency plans? Really?
I think reassuring the public and maintaining calm could be a compelling governmental interest justifying a mandatory quarantine  period. I understand that the scientific basis for determining a quarantine would be removed under that standard.
That said, I also expect better quarantine conditions then the ones that Ms. Hickox was held in.  They removed all of her luggage and personal belongings from her except for her iphone. Thankfully for her she got to keep her iphone or Lord only knows what horrors she'd still be enduring. From there, they undressed her and put her in a paper gown and placed her in a super gross, unheated tent equipped with a port-a-potty and no running water, no T.V., no computer internet, no reading materials, and most importantly she was denied access initially to a lawyer. If she had gone and robbed a bank she would have been treated better.
Its one thing to quarantine, its another to treat people like garbage. The fact is she wasn't even deemed worthy of being housed in an actual building. What happened with Ms. Troh and her family was also a disgrace. She was guarded by armed police and hounded by the media. Pictures were posted so people could hurl abuse on her and mock her poverty and her plight. Honestly, it was abusive and pitiful and she nothing wrong in all the world to deserve that mistreatment. I'm reading a lot of derogatory remarks about these health care workers now. Its disheartening to see the extent of the ugliness revealed. We can enforce rules and quarantine without being inhumane. there is no call for the nastiness and vitriol that's been circulating out there on the internet.