The Most Dangerous Woman In America Analysis

"The Most Dangerous Woman in America"
Jessica Gamella
Kean University
October 5, 2015

The film titled "The Most Dangerous Woman in America" tells the story of typhoid Mary. Mary Mallon was the first person in the United States discovered to be a carrier for typhoid fever. Mary was completely unaware of this because she herself had never had typhoid fever or any symptoms. Through the course of her life Mary infected a total of 49 people, three of which died as a result. Mary Mallon was an Irish immigrant who came to the United States in 1883 at age 15. She became a cook for wealthy families totaling eight, infecting six. One family hired a typhoid researcher named George Soper to investigate after most of the family fell ill. He found out that the family had changed cooks three weeks before the outbreak. Soper tracked Mary down at a new residence where she was working that also recently had an outbreak of typhoid fever. He approached Mary in the kitchen of her new place of employment to explain to her his theory. She became very offended by the accusations, even

waived a fork threateningly at him demanding that he leave. Soper tried a second time to reason with Mary, this time bringing another doctor with him. Again Mary turned him away claiming that she herself has never had typhoid fever. Dr Sara Josephine Baker, employed by the New York City Health Department was finally asked to go talk to Mallon and with the help of five police officers bring her into custody. While in custody blood and stool samples were taken from Mary and she was labeled a carrier of typhoid fever. She was then sent to a clinic on North Brother Island where she would remain quarantined for the next three years. In 1910 the new Commissioner of Health for New York City decided to release Mary as long as she changed her occupation and promised to take measures to prevent the spread of typhoid fever. Mary kept her promise for some time working as a laundress, which unfortunately pays considerably less than a cook. She eventually changed her name to Mary Brown and took on many positions as a cook and caused several outbreaks of typhoid fever. In 1915 Mary was found at Sloan Hospital for Women in New York City after another large outbreak that infected twenty-five people. Mary Mallon was arrested and returned to quarantine on North Brother Island where she remained for her entire life.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention currently have quarantine and isolation standards in place for a number of communicable diseases. The federal government has the authority to separate and restrict the movement of a possibly infected individual to prevent the spread of disease. This authority derives from the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. Public health authorities with the help of federal and sometimes local law enforcement will establish and maintain quarantine of a potentially harmful disease. If violation of this order occurs it is considered a criminal misdemeanor and is punishable by fines and imprisonment.
One of the moral dilemmas that concern society in regards to quarantine is respect for autonomy.

This respect gives the individual in question the right to essentially make their own decision in any given situation. Unfortunately not all individuals have the correct information or education on the topic to make the appropriate choice. The other issue with autonomy in regards to quarantine is that the individual is only thinking of themselves and not the people around them and how the decision they make may or may not affect them. In the film, The most dangerous woman in america, Mary Mallon was given a few opportunities to play a part in her initial testing and plan of care. Even in the end when respectively entrusted by the Commissioner of Health for New York City to change occupations and avoid spreading typhoid fever she made the decision that best suited

her.
I would have fully supported New York City Health Department in their decision to quarantine Mary Mallon to North Brother Island the first and definitely the second time. Looking at the situation ethically from a utilitarian vantage point you can see that the goal was to stop the spread of typhoid fever. Mary Mallon was asked to get tested, she refused. She was asked to stop cooking and also be cautious in regards to the spreading the disease to others. Not only did Mary refuse this request but she went out of her way and even changed her name to acquire several positions as a cook. Her last place of employment was with new mothers and their babies in a women's hospital, clearly putting their lives in danger. I understand that quarantining a person against their will is demoralizing but a society is made up of more than just one person. If the infected person in question does not have the education or information regarding the disease they are carrying around or worse they refuse to retain the information and actively be a part of the solution than I believe the individual should be quarantined. Mary Mallon was quarantined to North Brother Island because this was the best plan of action that resulted in the least amount of harm and the greater good for society.

Donat, R. (Narrator). (2004). The Most Dangerous Woman in America [Online video]. New York: Nova. Retrieved from www.youtube.com
Quarantine and Isolation. (2014, January 15). In Center for Disease Control and
Prevention. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from www.cdc.gov
Rosenberg. J. (1996). Typhoid Mary. In About Education. Retrieved from
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Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2014). Foundation of Nursing in the Community:
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