Toronto: Tuberculosis Patient Locked Up as He Fights for His Right to Die

Wayne Deakin has been detained inside Toronto's West Park Healthcare Center for nearly four months by a court order stating he must cooperate with advised medical treatment for TB and not expose anyone else to infection. Yesterday, a dozen lawyers argued whether or not Deakin should be allowed to refuse treatment and fulfill his wish to die naturally from TB. Attorneys representing the hospital, the City of Toronto, the provincial Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and Deakin's physician argued the 46-year old patient is a "significant risk to the public" and should continue to be detained and treated at the hospital. Although the order expires next week, the city's associate medical officer of health, Dr. Barbara Yaffe, has applied to extend it another four months. Deakin's attorney's conceded that his TB warrants detainment in a hospital, but argued he has every right to deny treatment. "He doesn't want to infect anyone," said Barry Swadron, Deakin's attorney. "He is quite happy to be in quarantine." The hearing is expected to continue tomorrow.

Back to other CDC news for June 12, 2002

Previous Updates