The Big Event

The event that started it all. I already feel like a real expert on my topic after all that research.

NIAID. "Nina Pham Leavs NIH." 10/23/2014 via WikiMedia Commons.  Creative Commons License.

The one event that started it all was Nina Pham contracting Ebola. But first, some background information. The first man diagnosed with Ebola in the United States,  Thomas Duncan, arrived at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas with the first few symptoms of Ebola in October of 2014. The first time he came, he reported having a scalding fever and nauseating gastrointestinal issues, yet he was turned away. The second time he came, the symptoms were had worsened and he was finally admitted. Nina Pham was assigned to be his nurse. In many interviews, Nina expresses deep concern for how unprepared she and the other nurses are to handle a patient with Ebola. They haven't received the proper training or equipment to deal with such a sensitive, quarantined patient. When she asked her supervisor for guidance, she was given a Google printout and told to handle it to the best of her ability. Already, Nina and the nurses feel like they are out in danger but continue to treat Duncan. As nurses, they're role is to do the "dirty work" that involves being in very close contact with Duncan. Nina herself is involved in Duncan's dialysis treatment and putting in a breathing tube. As she continues to treat Duncan, she monitors her own health as protocol directs her to. After a few days, Nina comes down with a fever and is admitted into the hospital ninety minutes after she notices her fever. That very night, she is diagnosed with Ebola. The media enters a frenzy over how this could be possible. The first questions that are asked are over the hospitals protocol. Was it the hospitals fault, or Nina's? Texas Health Resources (THR) is attacked by the media, and the first injustice against Nina occurs; she asks that her name is not released to the media, but THR reveals her identity. Injustices against Nina continue to happen, which eventually leads to her lawsuit.

Personally, this sounds like a nightmare. Total side note, but I'm on Nina's side here.