Save One Life

The California Supreme Court is set to rule today on a case involving whether trained, non-nurse school employee or teacher can give a student a necessary insulin shot when the school nurse is unavailable. At the center of the issue is the nurse's union, which argues that nurses know what to do while teachers and others don't, and the parents, supported by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) who argue it is for the child's health and safety. The Obama Administration has filed an Amicus Curie brief in support of the parents.

There are times when unions can go too far to try and protect their members, when common sense should prevail. This is one of those times.

No one, as I see it, is trying to minimize the role of a school nurse. Instead, I think the nurse plays an important role in the total daily administration of the school's function. Nurses are essential to be able to determine the severity of a child's aches and pains, and whether to take the important decision to rush an injured or sick child to the hospital or urgent care facility. After all, they are, in most states, registered nurses or nurse practitioners.

As one who was diagnosed with diabetes during my chemotherapy treatment, I can assure you, that when I  needed my first injection, I was glad that someone was able to administer it. And while it was at a hospital, it was administered by a medical assistant. Subsequently, of course, I learned how to administer it myself.

But there are times when a diabetic cannot resolve the insulin shock he is experiencing. And this is the crux of the parents' argument. Should a teacher stand by helplessly, unable to help the child in distress, while awaiting a medically licensed nurse or EMT arrive on the scene to administer a virtually painless, yet life-saving injection? Of course not.

Hopefully, the court will decide for the parents and rule in a common sense manner, that still validates the role of the school nurse, yet allows a trained and certified school employee or teacher perform one of the most basic functions to save a child's life. Think of it as a form of administering CPR or the Heimlich maneuver.

The court has a child's life in its hands.

*****UPDATE****

After this commentary was written, the California Supreme Court ruled that trained teachers and other school employees ARE PERMITTED to administer insulin shots to students when the school nurse is not available.

This ruling is a win for the parents, the ADA and common sense sense. Congratulations CSC for the correct ruling.