Several people have asked why the 'biting victim' in the Kodo incident isn't
forced to take the post exposure shots as a preventative measure.
 
The short answer is that the health dept can't do that even if they want to.
 
We humans have the legal right to refuse medical treatment, even if it's in
our best interest.  Refusals happen more often than many of you might think.
Usually, if a patient refuses medical treatment they are asked to sign a
form saying so (but they probably can't be forced to sign either).
 
The ability of an individual to make this decision can be overruled if the
individual is deemed incapable of making the decision for themselves, then
it will be made for them.  For example, a car accident victim who is
unconcious can't refuse on their own behalf.  Some individuals are ruled
incapable due to mental incapacity, e.g.,due to mental retardation, mental
illness, substance abuse, etc.  Someone else is assigned the responsibility
of making such decisions on their behalf.
 
But if a person if capable of making the decision for themselves, they can.
In other words, if a person was bitten by a known rabid, known to be
shedding rabies virus animal, they could STILL refuse treatment.
 
On spraying bitter apple directly into a ferrets mouth/face: Rob McNish
noted, it could be painful if it gets into their eyes.  I'd like to add that
it contains 20% isopropanol (alcohol) and might actually be damaging if it
gets into the eyes.  The bottle cautions not to get it in eyes.  So please
don't spray in or near their little faces!
 
-Ilena Ayala
[Posted in FML issue 1947]