Brantford Public Library's Online Book Club discussion

Joe has privately asked a co-worker to keep an eye on him and his symptoms in order to let Joe know when he should step down from his position as a Police Officer.

Considering that Joe was already experiencing active symptoms of Huntington's, do you think it was a good decision for him to keep working? Should someone who cannot control his body movements or who may appear to be drunk be representing the police force or carrying a gun ?

Should Joe have been more open with his employer about his condition?

This also crossed my mind as I was reading. It didn't seem reasonable that he was still working on the streets. I understand his reasons for wanting to keep it quiet but it is not something you can hide very well. Surely, they would have put him on some sort of lighter duty. It may not have been what he wanted but it would have been more responsible I think. In the book, he was still working at the stage where his was flinging cups out of his hands at home. How could you hide those type of actions at work?

I found it frightening that Joe would continue to work and compromise the public's safety, his own past wonderful record and his reputation. Joe should have stepped down earlier.