Asthma and Allergy Medication Self-Administration by Children in School: Liability Issues for the Nurse

Summary

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Until recently, most school children have not been permitted to carry medications on their own for asthma and allergy emergencies. The purpose of this article is to discuss the overall legislation in the United States regarding the carrying and self-administration of asthma and allergy medications by school children, and the history behind the development of such laws. Federal and state statutes setting parameters for medication administration in the school setting and protecting the rights of children with asthma to carry emergency asthma and allergy medications are reviewed. Several court cases related to incidents surrounding the carrying of emergency asthma medications by school children are discussed. The law has given the school nurse an important role concerning student self-administration of asthma and allergy medications in the school setting.

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Extract

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Asthma and Allergy Medication Self-Administration by Children in School: Liability Issues for the Nurse

Phillip H. was an 11-year-old, 5th-grade student at Hanford Elementary School in California. Phillip had long-standing documented severe asthma. Phillip was excused from his classroom to use the restroom. A few minutes later, he appeared in the school office with symptoms of a severe asthma attack. His asthma rescue medications were kept in the school office. There was a significant distance between the restroom and the school office, so he had to walk this distance to the office during an asthma attack to obtain his rescue medications. The school secretary had Phillip's asthma medication and was trained in the use of the medication because school policy prohibited Phillip to carry it on his own at school. The secretary attempted to assist Phillip. However, before she could administer the rescue medication to reverse the asthma attack, Phillip coll...

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