Kimberly K. Bocell: Ebola nurse Kaci Hickox should respect public desire for safety
In this interview with KLIF-AM’s Amy Chodroff, Dallas health care attorney Kimberly K. Bocell discusses the dispute between public officials and nurse Kaci Hickox, who refused government requests that she stay home for 21 days after she returned from treating Ebola patients in West Africa. Ms. Bocell, a partner at Dallas-based Chamblee, Ryan, Kershaw & Anderson, P.C., says that while she commends Ms. Hickox for her work in health care, medical professionals should respect the public’s desire for safety. “She made the commitment to care for these patients in Sierra Leone, and she has to expect that there will be certain steps she has to go through when she gets back to the United States. Those people in her community are confused and scared, and they want to know that they’re safe. My expectation of her would be that she … needs to give that to them.” Ms. Bocell, a former registered nurse, says state governments have the power to impose limitations on the rights of U.S. citizens if there is a compelling government interest to do so.
The radio interview can be heard here.
Attorney: Kimberly K. Bocell
