A homeless woman will be heading to jail because she is refusing treatment for
tuberculosis.
Provincial court associate chief judge Michael Brecknell granted a warrant Thursday afternoon for the arrest of Freda Lynn Evans, 53, after he was told she has refused to receive treatment for the highly infectious and
potentially fatal disease.
Once apprehended, Evans will be detained in a special room at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre (PGRCC) for up to six months where she will be required to receive treatment, Brecknell stated in giving the
order.
He added the proviso that "there shall be no physical restraints used on her to administer such treatment," and Brecknell gave Evans the chance to be released from PGRCC by agreeing to a treatment plan.
Brecknell issued the order under the Public Health Act.
In requesting the warrant on behalf of Northern Health, lawyer Susan Beach described Evans as a crack cocaine user with no fixed address who was diagnosed with the disease in May.
She was admitted to the University Hospital of Northern B.C. on May 9, where she received initial treatment, and was released on May 24.
Despite efforts through the downtown wellness clinic and the wellness van, Evans had been living up to the treatment plan only 60 per cent of the time.
In September, said Beach, Evans had agreed to three plans three times but failed to live up to them and on Oct. 5 she was advised that she needed treatment, housing and possible confinement. Evans was told this when she was undergoing detox at the hospital, Beach said, but was not agreeable and discharged herself against medical advice. Since then has remained entirely noncompliant.
"She has not taken any of the medication," Beach said.
Northern Health public health officer William Osei asked that anyone who has been in contact with Evans to contact Northern Health to determine if they've been infected.
"Infection is very easy," Osei said.
Prince George RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass said police are routinely asked to make such arrests.
