New Mexico schools set to administer non-prescribed medications

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, signed a new law (Senate Bill 75) in March 2014 with hopes of improving response time and saving lives of students with certain allergic reactions and respiratory problems.  The law takes effect July 1, 2014 and permits New Mexico public school nurses to administer and stock medications such as Albuterol and Epinephrine.  Albuterol is prescribed to asthma sufferers with respiratory distress.  Epinephrin is prescribed to those who have extreme allergic reactions to certain foods and insect bites.  When a child has one of these conditions and does not have proper medication immediately, the risk is serious and deadly.

Some public school nurses and administration disagree with the new law and fear for the children’s safety.  New Mexico Senate Bill 75 allows school nurses to administer these drugs without a doctors prescription.  The school nurse will have total authority to make such a medical decision without the supervision of a physician.  Routinely emergency room registered nurses make such decisions; however, an emergency room physician is within the premises.

Parents around the State of New Mexico send their children to school with the assumption that their going to be safe.  No parent should ever have to worry about their child’s safety or welfare while attending any school.  In the original language of the new law, a clause was added to protect the schools from being sued if any students were injured.  However, the clause was taken out and now if there is a school medication injury, it can be litigated.  Parents of a child who has been injured due to medical malpractice or medication negligence should contact a personal injury law firm.  Only an attorney who is experienced in drug injuries can successfully litigate this type of lawsuit and protect the child’s rights and collect compensation for damages.