Typhoid Mary 1

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‘Typhoid Mary-The Most Dangerous Woman in America’
The documentary Typhoid Mary-The Most Dangerous Woman in America depicts the ordeals Mary Mallon faced as a typhoid bacteria’s carrier. She never contracted the disease, but she passed the germs onto others. Her misfortunes began when she was employed by a wealthy New York family as a cook. After a short while, typhoid broke out in the family and claimed ten lives. This set stage for what was to be a painful nightmare. Refusing to admit that her body carried typhoid germs, Mary went on getting jobs as a cook. She infected people wherever she went. Her case was unique, and she was branded the name Typhoid Mary, a name that stigmatized her. She was also made a laboratory pet, as she was constantly quarantined against her wishes. Albeit being a healthy carrier, the Department of Health failed to work with her and give her a shot at leading a normal life (Typhoid Mary: The Most Dangerous Woman in America n.p).
Some events in the film are examples of decisions made regarding Mary’s diagnosis, treatment, and quarantine. After investigations revealed that Mary was the source of typhoid bacteria, the Department of Health made a decision to isolate her in Riverside Hospital, North Border Island. The decision was made after Mary had caused over ten families to suffer from typhoid. The health department made the decision since Mary was a threat to the people she came into contact with. In such cases, clinicians may make decisions with the patient’s and the public’s interest at heart.

The decision to isolate Mary was for the greater good. Also, although she wasn’t asked for her consent, the decision was made with the intent of developing a medication that would cure her. She underwent numerous tests and treatments in a quest to get rid of her typhoid-causing bacteria. She was released after three years after coming into a shared consent to never cook nor infect people with typhoid.
However, Mary did not hold up her end of the bargain. She refused to believe that she made other people ill yet she did not have any typhoid symptoms. After acquiring another job in a hospital with a fake name, she caused yet another typhoid outbreak. She was arrested and isolated for another twenty-three years. The authorities made the decision to prevent further typhoid outbreaks. Such decisions are often regarded as abuse to human rights. Nevertheless, they are necessary in dire cases and where there is a potential to lose a life. To safeguard the public, Mary had to be isolated with or without her consent. Besides, Mary had broken her promise never to cook again nor infect other people. She was hence regarded to be a threat to the public. It was indeed essential to make a decision that saw her isolated for the rest parts of her life (Typhoid Mary: The Most Dangerous Woman in America n.p).
In conclusion, the decisions made might have been arrived at due to Mary’s status. First and foremost, she was an Irish immigrant. The fact that she immigrated to the United States from a foreign country may have contributed to the health officials’ decisions to isolate her. Other countries have been on the record for detaining individuals perceived to be from countries prone to communicable diseases. Also, Mary underwent the ordeals at a time when women were not as empowered as they are today. Her position in the society as an immigrant and a woman, therefore, may have caused Mary to be treated the way she did.
Work Cited
“Typhoid Mary: The Most Dangerous Woman in America (PBS Documentary).” YouTube, Uploaded by Carolyn S. Martins on 22 Aug 2017 2018 and Retrieved 5 February 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay2-0d7iE04