Prophylaxis and exclusion: compulsory isolation of Hansen's disease patients in São Paulo

Abstract

This article aims to retrieve the history of Hansen's disease in Brazil, analyzing the medical thinking of the time and the shaping of health policies that permitted the implementation, in São Paulo, of a prophylactic policy of compulsory exclusion for all Hansen's disease patients. It also analyzes how the structuring and implementation of this policy led to a 'São Paulo model' that strongly influenced the rest of the country. It addresses the creation of the state's network of leper colonies, their characteristics and the emergence of a veritable 'parallel state' that endured until 1967, with complete disregard of all the changes taking place in both national and international prophylactic policymaking.

O óleo de chaulmoogra como conhecimento científico: a construção de uma terapêutica antileprótica

“…On May 07, 1962, Decree 968 put an end to the mandatory isolation of the ill in Brazil. Nevertheless, São Paulo's Department of Prevention continued to isolate people with the disease until 1967 (Cunha, 2005;Monteiro, 2002;Monteiro, 2003 …”

Project REENCONTRO: ethical aspects of genetic identification in families separated by the compulsory isolation of leprosy patients in Brazil

“…The dispensaries, located in the urban conglomerations, were designed to locate new patients and refer them for isolation. The preventorio was to receive the children of the colony's internees (Monteiro 2003), keeping them under close observation lest they themselves develop the disease.…”

“…As a result of this policy, the isolation of one or both parents many times led to the fragmentation of families (Monteiro 2003). Some of the healthy children of institutionalized parents were given into the care of relatives.…”

“…Those who grew up in the orphanage were normally not allowed to leave the premises, attending primary school within the institution. Many of the children were put to work at a very early age (Monteiro 2003). By 1943, the country had 22 specialized orphanages, housing 2,500 children of leprosy patients (Weaver 1944).…”

Controle da hanseníase no Estado de São Paulo: análise histórica

“…Professionals from different countries would come to São Paulo to learn about the program, and leprologists from São Paulo were often invited to provide advice to the medical services in other countries, particularly those of Latin America. 18 In 1941, the I National Health Conference had as one of its central themes the fi ght against leprosy. That same year, on April 2, Decree-Law No.…”