Sarah’s tuberculosis is a serious case since, on the one hand, the organization has to ensure that other employees and residents are not affected, but on the other hand, address discrimination that Sarah faced. The financial implications of these complaints may be the need to settle the case before the court if Sarah decides to pursue her case. Although according to CDC (2014), the control and prevention of tuberculosis spread are essential for maintaining public health, Sarah may claim that she has faced unlawful discrimination. According to Dingake (2017), “people with tuberculosis (TB) experience infringements of their human rights daily” (p. 305). Among the many issues that these individuals face are discrimination and being isolated from others. Kavanagh et al. (2020) state that the current legal system needs to be reformed to ensure that people with TB are not denied basic human rights. However, currently, it appears that the main responsibility of the organization is to ensure that its employees and residents did not get infected (CDC, n.d.). The specific actions an employer must follow are outlined in the state’s TB control program.
Ethical implications include the morality of isolating an individual who has had a serious health condition but was cured of the group. Another issue is that someone provided Sarah’s private medical information to other employees, threatening the former’s privacy. The most important implications are legal since the organization may face financial losses and reputational risks if Sarah decides to file a lawsuit against the organization. The least important implication is financial since although the organization may have to pay Sarah, this case shows a serious legal and ethical breach within the facility’s employment culture.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Tuberculosis laws and policies. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). TB elimination. Web.
Dingake O. (2017). Human rights, TB, legislation, and jurisprudence. Health and Human Rights, 19(1), 305–309.
Kavanagh, M., Gostin, L., & Stephens, J. (2020). Tuberculosis, human rights, and law reform: Addressing the lack of progress in the global tuberculosis response. PLOS Medicine, 17(10), e1003324. Web.