TB patient jailed in the U.S flees 'abuse' for safety of Russia

Oct 9 2007

A tuberculosis patient, confined in a hospital jail ward in Arizona since August 2006 has fled the country apparently because he could no longer tolerate the abuse metered out to him.

Twenty seven year old Robert Daniels was found to be suffering from a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis after returning from Russia last year; he was placed in solitary confinement in a Maricopa Medical Center jail ward under a court order after medical authorities complained he had endangered others.

A judge ruled Daniels had recklessly exposed others to his illness by going out in public without a mask.

His case led to harsh criticism of the medical authorities because Daniels was treated as an inmate, placed in solitary confinement in a jail ward, placed under video surveillance without a phone, shower, television or other comforts.

Daniels underwent lung surgery last month at Denver’s National Jewish Medical and Research Center, where he had his lung removed; he was then told that he was no longer contagious.

He commended the hospital for the treatment he received.

Since then he has been living in a Phoenix-area motel under monitoring by Maricopa County Public Health officials.

Daniels who holds both Russian and American citizenship has apologised via his Attorney Linda Cosme for fleeing the U.S.

He arrived in Moscow on a flight on Sunday and has told Cosme he could no longer take the abuse from the county, felt threatened by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and feared he would be arrested again.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he believes Daniels was under court order not to leave the U.S. and maintains Daniel's behaviour is further proof he is untrustworthy.

Daniels was born in Moscow to an American father and Russian mother and has returned to his Russian family.