From: Lawyernet (JHMoss@LAWYERNET.COM)
Date: Tue Jun 27 2000 - 14:48:59 CDT
A little advance planning can be very helpful. Normally kids on medication
are getting refills constantly. Have the parent keep a couple of the old
bottles around to send with the kid and medication. That way an "original"
bottle is used to transport the medication. Legally this help, most
importantly, in an emergency the necessary information is available to
medical personnel.
Another option is to have the family MD send a letter outlining the
important information about the drug with the youth or to the unit leader.
General prescription information that may be needed by Emergency personnel,
dosage, reactions etc. That would be sufficient for any law enforcement
agency as to possession of the drug.
A final option is to keep the Pharmacy receipt and send it to camp. Now
days most pharmacy receipts print the information on the bottle on the
receipt including dosage, reactions and the prescribing MD's information.
The real question is who should possess the drugs. The youth or an Adult.
If the child is of the age where he can be trusted to take the drug and
knows how to take the drug the child should be in charge of the drug. Why
take away the chance to learn responsibility away from the youth. You also
eliminate any liability issues for possession of the drug by anyone other
than what the law says is the person who has the right to possess the drug.
(Camp nurses don't have the right to possess someone else's prescriptions.
Thank heavens no one cares.)
If the child does not want to take the drug or is unable to take the drug as
required then additional safeguards may need to be taken. Either an adult
can "remind and supervise." Or the child must be sent to the health lodge
at the appropriate times to be given the drug.
Although there are a lot of legalities in possessing prescription drugs,
especially narcotics, the realities are no law enforcement agency is going
to "raid" a BSA summer camp and arrest a Unit Leader or Camp Nurse. Better
is to develop a program that assist the youth in growing and becoming
responsible for their own lives.
Yours in Scouting
Jim Moss
Denver Area Council
12340 W. Alameda Pkwy., Lakewood, CO 80228-2841
303-980-5353 Fax 303-989-2316
JHMoss@Lawyernet.com JHMoss@Earthlink.net
