Nurse refuses student inhaler during asthma attack

[jnelsoninjax]

DELTONA, Fla. -

Volusia County School officials stand by a Deltona High School nurse's decision to refuse a student his inhaler during an asthma attack, citing a lack of a parent's signature on a medical release form.

"It's like something out of a horror film. The person just sits there and watches you die," said Michael Rudi, 17. "She sat there, looked at me and she did nothing."

He said the school dean found his inhaler during a search of his locker last Friday. The inhaler was still in its original packaging -- complete with his name and directions for its use; however, the school took it away because his mother hadn't signed the proper form for him to have it.

School leaders called Sue Rudi when her son started having trouble breathing. She rushed to the office and was taken back to the nurse's office by school administrators and they discovered the teen on the floor.

"As soon as we opened up the door, we saw my son collapsing against the wall on the floor of the nurse's office while she was standing in the window of the locked door looking down at my son, who was in full-blown asthma attack," Rudi said.

Michael Rudi said when he started to pass out from his attack, the nurse locked the door.

"I believe that when I closed my eyes I wasn't going to wake up," he said.

The Director of Student Health Services, Cheryl Selesky, said that parents must sign the medical release form each year, which allows students to carry their prescribed drugs with them in school.

This year, the district had no record of his Rudi's signature, said Selesky.

"I mean its common sense if I saw an animal on the street in distress I would probably stop to help, why wouldn't she help a child," Sue Rudi said.

But Rudi is a senior, and his mother said the district has had records of his asthma throughout his years in the school.

She thinks her son could have died because of a technicality.

"How dare you deny my son something that we all take for granted, breath," said Sue Rudi. "Why didn't someone call 911?"

Selesky said the district is looking into whether proper procedures were followed by the school, and while nurses can't give medications without the proper authorization, it is district policy to call 911 when a student cannot breath.

Selesky could not explain why 911 was never called.

"I understand if you can't give it to him call 911," Sue Rudi said. "Why did you not call 911?"

Sue Rudi said she worries about the next student caught in a similar situation, and has filed charges against the nurse with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

"I want to press child endangerment charges for something they did to my son," Rudi said in the 911 call.

Local 6 reached out to the school district officials for more information, but they declined to interview.

Source

[DrJohnSmitherson]

Wow...Crazy nurse

[Brandon H Supervisor]

it's reasons such as this why I think High Schools public schools in general are way too strict

sure they have reasons for rules/regulations such as these but it's at times like this one where that rule should be allowed to be flat out broken/dismissed as it's causing more harm then good

[DocM]

The politics of the district has ZERO to do with this as stupidity is running rampant in school administrations nationwide.

Speaking as an asthmatic; in just the US 438,000 of us are hospitalized every year, and 3,300 die, due to an attack. It would be a crime if one of either were a child because of the bureaucratic needs of stupid adults.

I'd fire whoever touched this decision.

[sagum]

I don't see the logic here. He has medical treatment with his name on it yet they took it away from him?

If he had a pacemaker due to a bad heart, would they remove that because his parents hadn't signed for it?

Or what about a wheel chair? Prosteic leg? or maybe a fake eye ball? broken arm casting? How about other prescribed long term drugs, such as blood pressure tablets or diabetics.

Was this nurse simple high, stupid, or just didn't give a damn because it was 'just' an astma attack?

Surley any ownership from problems arising from the misuse/handling of his inhaler would be down to who prescribed it.

This world is going crazy over being politally correct. Is it really so hard for people to do the right thing rather then worring about what people are going to think.

And why do people over think the situations, people are just trying to help (or not in this case!).

[articuno1au]

Here's to hoping the nurse gets prosecuted and any staff involved in the decision get fired.

[Original Poster]

obviously something happened ? i mean the person is still alive? so what saved them...

[articuno1au]

The mother I suspect.

[farmeunit]

I don't see the logic here. He has medical treatment with his name on it yet they took it away from him?

If he had a pacemaker due to a bad heart, would they remove that because his parents hadn't signed for it?

Or what about a wheel chair? Prosteic leg? or maybe a fake eye ball? broken arm casting? How about other prescribed long term drugs, such as blood pressure tablets or diabetics.

Was this nurse simple high, stupid, or just didn't give a damn because it was 'just' an astma attack?

Surley any ownership from problems arising from the misuse/handling of his inhaler would be down to who prescribed it.

This world is going crazy over being politally correct. Is it really so hard for people to do the right thing rather then worring about what people are going to think.

And why do people over think the situations, people are just trying to help (or not in this case!).

The mother should have signed the proper forms. Kids can die from aspirin if they have a certain genetic makeup, so if they are given aspirin by the school, for certain symptoms that would suggest they needed aspirin, but they die, you are saying the school shouldn't be held accountable? I just use that one example as there are so many to consider.

It has nothing to do with being PC and everything to do with people taking responsibility for their kids and their safety and not expecting the school to make life decisions without parent's consent and written permission.

The simple fact is that the kid is still alive.

[articuno1au]

Yeah, or the doctor that, you know, prescribed the medication to the kid.

That same medication that the school took away :\

This isn't asking the school to make a diagnosis and render medication. The diagnosis and medication had already been prescribed.

[farmeunit]

And kids never put drugs into other packaging to hide it . . . /s

They found the inhaler during a search of his locker. He should have turned into nurse in the first place. Then no signature.

Why didn't the mother call 911 on the way to the school? It just just doesn't add up to me.

[shamilbear]

The mother should have signed the proper forms. Kids can die from aspirin if they have a certain genetic makeup, so if they are given aspirin by the school, for certain symptoms that would suggest they needed aspirin, but they die, you are saying the school shouldn't be held accountable? I just use that one example as there are so many to consider.

It has nothing to do with being PC and everything to do with people taking responsibility for their kids and their safety and not expecting the school to make life decisions without parent's consent and written permission.

The simple fact is that the kid is still alive.

As far as I know, kids aren't prescribed aspirin. The kid was prescribed something, probably salbutamol (blue inhaler). What's worse, a kid dying due to a technicality or a kid potentially surviving? Also, the release is for prescribed drugs, not non-prescribed drugs.

[farmeunit]

As far as I know, kids aren't prescribed aspirin. The kid was prescribed something, probably salbutamol (blue inhaler). What's worse, a kid dying due to a technicality or a kid potentially surviving? Also, the release is for prescribed drugs, not non-prescribed drugs.

If he would have turned the inhaler in to the nurse instead of sticking in locker, problem could have been solved. The mother could have called 911, and problem solved. Everyone blaming school, but the family didn't do 3 simple things that could have prevented this. Take responsibility for your lives instead of blaming everyone else. Jesus Christ.

[articuno1au]

The school was in possession of the medication. It had confiscated the medication.

That puts ALL of the liability on their shoulders.

Furthermore, the school had a record of permission in the past, but suddenly they think it's not legit? How do you justify that?

Also, there are better ways to hide drugs than to fake an asthma inhaler :\

[shamilbear]

If he would have turned the inhaler in to the nurse instead of sticking in locker, problem could have been solved. The mother could have called 911, and problem solved. Everyone blaming school, but the family didn't do 3 simple things that could have prevented this. Take responsibility for your lives instead of blaming everyone else. Jesus Christ.

If the mother had been delayed by 20 minutes, the kid could have died.

I'm glad to hear that you value a signature over someone's life.

[calimike]

There is one way... call 911 :/

[Manarift]

Under any law it is the responsibility of the school to make sure the well being of the kids but the policy of not allowing them to have medication prescribed to the person without that signature is wrong and contradicts with health and safety policies

[p1p3]

How the **** are they allowed to confiscate a prescribed medicine? I don't see how anyone could be given that right besides a licensed and trained healthcare professional. Nobody without the proper training, not the school, not the police, not event the parents should have the right to confiscate life saving medicine from a 17 year old. If they believe that the prescribed drug is not what it says on the package/bottle the police should be involved and they should contact the individual who wrote the prescription to verify it. During the time the confiscated medicine is not available the person should be closely monitored at a hospital by people who can provide verified medicine and emergency healthcare in case problems appear.

I can say that I would not allow ANYONE to confiscate any legal medicine I was in possession of.

[mudslag]

The mother should have signed the proper forms. Kids can die from aspirin if they have a certain genetic makeup, so if they are given aspirin by the school, for certain symptoms that would suggest they needed aspirin, but they die, you are saying the school shouldn't be held accountable? I just use that one example as there are so many to consider.

It has nothing to do with being PC and everything to do with people taking responsibility for their kids and their safety and not expecting the school to make life decisions without parent's consent and written permission.

The simple fact is that the kid is still alive.

There could be a number of reasons for why the paper was not signed or in school possession. There isn't enough info listed to make the call on that. When your kids are in school, the school itself is responsible for the kids while they are on their grounds. The school is still to blame in this situation.

Lastly the kid is alive but the other outcome was still a possibility. You don't ignore the ignorance of the situation just because the kid is still alive.

[mudslag]

And kids never put drugs into other packaging to hide it . . . /s

They found the inhaler during a search of his locker. He should have turned into nurse in the first place. Then no signature.

Why didn't the mother call 911 on the way to the school? It just just doesn't add up to me.

The argument isn't the the school didnt have the right to look but being an asthma sufferer myself, anyone with have a brain can tell you that an inhaler is just that, including the nurse. Again you ignore that the kid is on school grounds, 911 should have been called by them first.

[mokthraka]

The argument isn't the the school didnt have the right to look but being an asthma sufferer myself, anyone with have a brain can tell you that an inhaler is just that, including the nurse. Again you ignore that the kid is on school grounds, 911 should have been called by them first.

seriously. It isn't like its a pill. Its an inhaler. You cant put something else in it.

[simplezz]

Following the rules is clearly more important to them than saving someone's life. They should all be fired.

[mokthraka]

The argument isn't the the school didnt have the right to look but being an asthma sufferer myself, anyone with have a brain can tell you that an inhaler is just tha t, including the nurse. Again you ignore that the kid is on school grounds, 911 should have been called by them first.

seriously. It isn't like its a pill. Its an inhaler. You cant. put something else in it.

I hate this phone. Stupid double posts.

[hooko22]

People who are completely stuck in rules and regulation annoy the hell out of me. Have read about and met so many people who have a superiour then thou attitude because they follow the rules, they see themselves as superior people. Jeez so annoying. Damn rules!

[DavidM]

Anyone who puts rules before lives deserves to lose badly in a similar situation. It's a nice learning experience. So, yes, really.

um ok, Did HE put the rules before the students life? No. He simply said they should have followed the rules, and you wished someone close to him death, so he could learn NOT to have an opinion? Really?

The rules are there to protect the school/staff from being sued, if the inhaler had been tampered with and the nurse had given it AND the student died, or got worse or any of another ****ing things, the parents would have laywered up and sued the school for breaking their own rules and some other ****. Now, they will laywer up and sue for causing little Michael stress, since he is fine now. So, damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Never mind this all could have been avoided if they had filled out the paper work given them at the beginning of the year...