State v. Kirby

120 Iowa 26 | Iowa | 1903

ShebwiN, J.

The local board of health of the incorporated town of Grand Junction undertook to quarantine the defendant for smallpox on the 1st day of June, 1901; and the indictment charges that he disobeyed the order of the board, and left the premises where he had been confined before the quarantine was raised, and without the consent oí the’ proper authorities. The sufficiency of the indictment is questioned, but this we need not determine, because of the view we take of the controlling question in the case, namely, the legality of the quarantine.

It is unquestionably true that the preservation of the public health is of paramount importance to the state at large, as well as to local communities, and that the state, !. quarantine: ofSent health-in tlie exercise oí its police powers, may con-ier upon the state and local boards of health whatever powers are deemed necessary for the preservation of the general health of a community or of the state. It may, perhaps, be conceded that, even in the absence of express statutory authority so to do, the authorities of a local community would have inherent or implied power to adopt such rules and regulations as were reasonably necessary for the preservation of the public health of such community; but, whenever the state has expressly conferred such power, it must be exercised as provided in the grant; The policy of the law of this, as well as most of the other states, has been to confer great power upon those boards; and it may be conceded that; so far as the exercise of those powers is concerned, a liberal construction should be given to the rules and regulations adopted by such board. Wong Wai v. Williamson (C. C.) 103 Fed. Rep. 1. “But they must not unreasonably interfere with the liberty, property, and business of the citizen.” Commonwealth v. Patch, 97 Mass. 221. “And whether such regulations are reasonable, impartial, and consistent with the state policy is a question for the court.” State v. Speyer, 67 Vt. 502 (32 Atl. Rep. 476, 29 L. R. A. 573, 48 Am. St. Rep. 832). While the law seeks the welfare of the greater number, and says that individual liberty and property must yield for the time being thereto, it has prescribed the preliminary steps necessary to deprive the citizen of these constitutional rights, and it is but just and in accord with settled legal principles that the courts require a strict adherence to the statute in matters of this kind.

Chapter 59 of the Acts of the Twenty-fourth General Assembly provided that, “upon written notice given by any physician that smallpox * * * exists in any place, 2. notice by physician. [shall be the duty of the mayor * * * £0 establish quarantine.” Section 2568 of the Code says that “the quarantine authorized * * * in case of infectious or contagious diseases may be declared or terminated by the mayor * * * upon written notice given by any practicing physician of the existence of such disease. ” The local rules under which the board acted in this case were adopted in 1894, and we think they do require a written notice as provided by the statute; but, whether this is so or not, the statute required it when the rules were adopted, and, what is of more importance, it was required when the attempt was made to quarantine the defendant. No such written' notice, however, had been given by any physician; and we think the board was, for this reason, without authority to restrain the defendant. It is not necessary for the preservation of the public health that the mayor be allowed to shut a person up in his own house, or in a pesthouse, on the mere suggestion of any one who may be unduly alarmed over appearances. Every town now has a competent physician for its health officer, and, in case of his temporary absenee or inability to act, other competent physicians may easily be obtained for an examination and the written report required by the statute.

It is said, however, that the defendant consented to this quarantine. That he might have waived a formal notice thereof may be conceded, but surely it will not be 3. waiver of of notice. contended that he could be convicted of avio-latum of the quarantine statute simply because he had agreed to remain secluded from his fellows for a given length of time. Had he done this, he might be guilty of a breach of contract, but nothing more.

Other matters are discussed in argument, but, as what we have already said will dispose of the case, we do not give them further consideration.

The judgment is reversed.