California settlement puts staff in an untenable position 

A recent agreement between the California Department of Education and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) allowing unlicensed personnel to give insulin is not in the best interest of students with diabetes.

"This agreement provides a false sense of security," says Juanita Hogan, a school nurse from Pittsburgh and a member of AFT Healthcare's program and policy council.

For the past several years, our union has been fighting the ADA over allowing school staff to administer insulin to students. Unlicensed school staff cannot be expected to assess and treat students with diabetes after a brief training session. Even medical personnel who do not continually practice their skills have trouble staying proficient, which may lead to medical errors.

Last year's agreement ends a lawsuit filed in 2005 by four families and the ADA, which alleged that some school districts in California were not providing students with diabetes the services they were legally entitled to receive at school, including insulin administration.
In California, the law requires insulin to be administered by a school nurse or other healthcare professional. If they are not available, other options are permitted, including allowing students to self-administer their insulin, or having family members or friends do it. In emergencies, a school employee who has been trained can give insulin.

With the settlement, there is a new option: An unlicensed school employee who volunteers can be trained to administer insulin in the absence of a school nurse or other school health professional. Volunteers are to be trained and supervised by a registered nurse or physician.

The AFT believes the state department of education overstepped its bounds by agreeing to this option. Aside from settling for a lower standard of care, the agreement means that school districts and staff members who volunteer to provide this care may be subject to liability or negligence charges.

The AFT has called on the diabetes association to cooperate in seeking the best possible care for students with chronic conditions, including diabetes.