This issue has come up before, in the inoculation debates in 1721. It became a more serious problem in the late 19th and early 20th century as microbiologists quickly realized that many diseases were caused by contagious bacteria. Both the “Discussion on the Advisability of the Registration of Tuberculosis” and Leavitt’s “Typhoid Mary” discuss what powers health officials should have over the lives and rights of individuals.
What measures should be taken to control the spread of infectious disease? How do you weigh public health and individual rights to make appropriate decisions?
