Is it Legal to Quarantine People?

With the Coronavirus scare, governments are requesting citizens to restrict travel, to close businesses, and even to quarantine themselves. Is this legal? After all, American citizens have the fundamental right to travel and work a lawful profession among many rights (you may want to read my book Defending Freedom of Contact). And I believe these rights are protected by the Ninth Amendment and the Privileges and Immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the constitution. Since the government is only requesting citizens to cooperate and are not forcing them to comply with such measures, I believe it is legal. However, if and when the government makes these regulations mandatory that may be seen as a violation of Citizen rights and should be illegal. But what people need to remember is that the government can breach our fundamental rights if and only if there is a compelling reason such as protecting the safety and welfare of citizens. One can view Coronavirus as a good example of where the government can restrict the rights of the many to protect the rights of the few. For instance, citizens have the fundamental right to pursue health (this is not healthcare) and they have a fundamental right to life. This is the purpose of government, they are not tasked with creating rights, but they are tasked with protecting the rights of all citizens equally. An asymptomatic person who inflicts illness on others is a violation of their rights. So, temporarily restricting the rights of many to protect the rights of a few persons is perfectly legal. At least that is my constitutional view of the situation.

Insurance Companies (BCBS) Playing God

As some may be aware of, I suffer from a neurological disorder. I have been through a cluster of tests over the past 12 years, seen 10 neurologists, and had my diagnosis change 3 times. In short, nobody is sure what is going on. To cut to the chase, my latest neurologist has diagnosed me with some unidentified sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathy. She also believes that it is also possible that I may have cramp fasciculation syndrome (CFS), my previous diagnosis, but she is not sure. The crux of the problem is that my symptoms do not fit in any one bucket of disorders making diagnosis and differential diagnosis very difficult. Needless to say it is a very frustrating process and my next book will describe my ordeal and how I have tried to make the most out of bad situation.

My third EMG was positive for various types of issues including evidence of demyelination, axonal damage, and motor unit denervation. All are very serious nerve dysfunctions. Demyelination types of disorder at the peripheral nerves (Not the central nervous system, such as MS) are usually the result of some type of autoimmune attack. If true, immunoglobulin replacement therapy may help heal demyelinated nerve fibers and possibly over time some axonal nerve fiber damage. However, Blue Cross, Blue Shield (BCBS) rejected my insurance claim for the expensive treatment. Sure, there is a good chance the treatment may not help at all. But BCBS or any insurance company should not be in the business of playing God. If there is a remote chance it can help, they should grant the treatment. After all, it is a person's life we are talking about. You hear horror stories of insurance companies denying expensive cancer treatments to patients all the time because there is a high probability the treatment will not work, but there is a chance it could work and save a life. Insurance companies are there to help people, not to deny them service. And if we get socialist running the nation this problem will only get worse.

BCBS may think they are saving a few bucks, but are they saving society money? When insurance is denied that may help people then that cost is merely passed along down the road. If I felt better, I would not need to see the neurologist as much or have to continue to try other treatment methods (that do not cure, only treat the symptoms). When people are forced on the disability payrolls it costs the government and other institutions tens of thousands of dollars in costs and productivity. In other words, these decisions will cost BCBS in the long run as well as strain our already disability services.

Right now, I am waiting on my doctor who is protesting and challenging the insurance companies denial of service.