PHOENIX—Despite a court order authorizing his transfer to a top treatment center in Colorado, a man who has been quarantined with deadly tuberculosis for nearly a year remains incarcerated at a Phoenix hospital.
Robert Daniels, 27, suffers from an extremely drug-resistant form of TB, known as XDR.
He was placed in a jail ward at Maricopa Medical Center last August under court order after medical authorities complained that he had endangered others.
Daniels remains in lockdown without visitors, exercise or a view of the outside world.
Linda Cosme, an attorney for Daniels, said the transfer papers signed June 29 by a county Superior Court commissioner were sought by county medical experts because her client’s condition is deteriorating and he requires surgery.
The order authorizes Daniels’ removal to National Jewish Medical & Research Center in Denver, which is nationally known for treating respiratory diseases.
“What’s taking so long? That’s an excellent question,” Cosme said.
She declined to provide details but said Colorado health officials became concerned about accepting Daniels after Maricopa County represented him as “this really dangerous guy.”
Robert England, county tuberculosis control officer, said he could not comment on the case due to a medical privacy laws.
But England said Maricopa County might seek approval to move a patient “if that individual’s treatment could best be obtained in another facility.”
In severe cases of XDR-TB, the most infected portion of the lungs may be removed to improve a patient’s prognosis.
The court order provides for Daniels to be moved by ambulance and private medical aircraft, with a security escort. It requires the patient to abide by all instructions from National Jewish personnel or be returned to Phoenix.
Cosme said Daniels is aware of the court order and eager to leave Phoenix but has deteriorated medically and psychologically while waiting.
