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Strong Winds This Morning
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TB Traveler Hopes For Forgiveness Save Email Print
Reporter: Associated Press

A | A | A

An Atlanta attorney who's quarantined with a dangerous strain of tuberculosis says in hindsight, flying across the Atlantic and back may not have been "the best decision."

But in his interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Andrew Speaker continued to insist that he was told by doctors that he wasn't dangerous.

Speaker said his doctors and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all knew he had TB before he flew to Europe for his wedding and honeymoon last month. But said he was advised that he wasn't contagious or a danger to anyone.

He also said the decision to fly back across the ocean was made because he and his wife were "scared out of our minds" at the prospect of him being indefinitely placed in an Italian hospital and dying there.

Speaker could sue the federal government for being quarantined on the basis of federal regulations that some scholars see as unconstitutional. Or, Speaker could be sued by fellow airline passengers, especially if any caught the disease from him.

Meantime, an official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Speaker has the right to request an administrative hearing to appeal the quarantine order, but has not done so.

Officials said he was allowed back into the U-S by a border inspector who disregarded a computer warning to stop him.

The inspector, who's been removed from border duty, explained that Speaker seemed perfectly healthy, and that he thought the warning was merely "discretionary."

Speaker is now under quarantine at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver.

He had returned last week from his wedding and honeymoon trip through Italy, the Greek isles and other spots in Europe.

His new father-in-law, Robert Cooksey, is a C-D-C microbiologist whose specialty is T-B and other bacteria.

Some South Carolina college students are accepting an apology from an Atlanta attorney who may have exposed them to a dangerous strain of tuberculosis.

But the students from the University of South Carolina Aiken said they're worried about the future, and already are being treated differently by others.

Jason Vik, 21, said employees were afraid of him when he arrived at CNN for an interview yesterday. Vik is among the Aiken students who were on a flight to Paris with the man.

Speaker says he just hopes others will forgive him.

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Posted by: Emma Location: Chicago on Jun 5, 2007 at 02:44 PM
Give the man a break people! I don't believe he EVER intended to transmit his disease to anyone...this man isn't a criminal, he simply made a poor choice...don't we ALL do that from time-to-time? Whatever happened to forgiveness?

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 2, 2007 at 07:23 PM
Let's see. You post someone's comment calling him an idiot, but not mine about him catching smallpox?

Posted by: DM Location: Co Springs on Jun 2, 2007 at 08:20 AM
He has a better chance on catching something else than receiving forgiveness, especially if he infects anyone.

Posted by: michelle Location: north on Jun 1, 2007 at 10:00 PM
If he spread TB to any of the other passangers knowing he had it isnt that murder?

Posted by: DM Location: Co Springs on Jun 1, 2007 at 06:50 PM
He's got a better chance of catching smallpox than forgiveness, especially if he spreads the TB

Posted by: adam Location: springs on Jun 1, 2007 at 12:22 PM
This man is an irresponsible idiot. He deserves whatever he gets.