Tacoma Woman Facing Arrest For Refusing Tuberculosis Treatment: TPCHD

TACOMA, WA — Law enforcement is looking for a Tacoma woman who authorities said Friday has repeatedly refused to receive treatment for active tuberculosis. In what the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department called a "rare instance," officials said the patient has continued to refuse to isolate from others or receive potentially life-saving treatment.

The civil arrest warrant issued Friday by Judge Philip Sorenson grants police the authority to detain the woman and transport her to a facility that can provide isolation, testing a treatment. Health officials last week said after 16 unsuccessful court hearings, they were "closing in our last option" to resolve the issue.

"We will continue to work through the court and to pursue all our options to protect the community and persuade the patient to voluntarily seek the life-saving treatment she needs," TPCHD wrote in a statement Friday.

Officials said Friday's warrant marks only the third time in two decades that the health department has been forced to seek a court order to detain a patient refusing treatment for tuberculosis.

In an average year, Pierce County sees roughly 20 active cases, which health care providers are required by law to report to the health department. Almost universally, officials said patients are compliant and agree to seek treatment for the disease, which is both contagious and deadly but curable.

As a last resort, Judge Sorensen found the woman in civil contempt for refusing to comply with his order and issued an arrest warrant, provided she did not comply before Friday.

"When we face challenges with a person who does not want to take medication or isolate, we connect with family members, friends, and people in their community to help," TPCHD said. "We work to remove any barriers that may be in the way of them getting the treatment they need. When these options don't work, the Health Department has an obligation to the community and the legal authority to seek a court order to persuade patients to comply."