The year is 1983. America (and soon the rest of the world) is in the throes of a new epidemic. Over the past few years, a series of people from specific risk groups have developed a new disease, AIDS, characterized by severe immunodeficiency and opportunistic infections. A new virus, lymphadenopathy virus, has been identified that might be the cause of AIDS; but no test yet exists to detect the virus in infected patients. Even though AIDS can be rapidly progressive, some patients can live for years after showing the first signs of the disease. This creates a dilemma for public health officials. Several people known to have AIDS, notably Gaetan Dugas, a male flight attendant from Montreal, continue to engage in high risk behavior (in his case, unprotected sex with multiple male partners).
• Should public health authorities have the right to confine people, as was done with Mary Mallon, to keep them from spreading the disease?Explain.
• Should all patients with AIDS be reported to health officials, as has been done with tuberculosis and syphilis, do that their behavior can be monitored?Discuss.
(between 150-200 words).