JGFGBA: Student Self-Administration of Medications

Epinephrine and Inhalers

The self-administration of medication is allowed for eligible students in grades K–12. As used in this policy medication includes, but is not limited to, a medicine for the treatment of anaphylaxis or asthma listed in current federal regulation as an inhaled bronchodilator or epinephrine delivery system. Self-administration is the student's discretionary use of an approved medication for which the student has a prescription or written direction from a healthcare provider.

As used in this policy, "healthcare provider" means a physician licensed by the state board of healing arts to practice medicine and surgery or a mid-level practitioner as defined in state law.

Student Eligibility

An eligible student shall meet all the following requirements:

1. Have a written statement from the student's healthcare provider stating the name and purpose of any prescription medication;
2. Know the prescribed or recommended dosage;
3. Know the time the medication is to be regularly administered;
4. Be able to articulate any additional special circumstances under which the medication is to be administered;
5. Know the length of time for which the medication is prescribed; and
6. The student shall also demonstrate to the healthcare provider or the provider's designee, as applicable, and the school nurse or the nurse's designee, as applicable, the skill level necessary to use the medication and any device that is necessary to administer the medication. In the absence of a school nurse, the school shall designate a person who is trained to witness the demonstration.

Authorization Required

With regard to prescription medications which are not administered on a regular schedule, the students's healthcare provider shall prepare a written treatment plan for managing the student's condition such as asthma attacks or anaphylaxis episodes, and for medication use by the student during school hours. The student's parent or guardian shall annually complete and submit to the school any written documentation required by the school, including the treatment plan prepared by the student's healthcare provider. Permission forms shall be updated at the time the student enrolls in school.

Employee Immunity

All teachers responsible for the student's supervision shall be notified that permission to carry medications and self-administer has been granted. The school district shall provide written notification to the parent or guardian of a student that the school district and its officers, employees and agents are not liable for damage, injury or death resulting directly or indirectly from the self-administration of medication.

Waiver of Liability

The student's parent or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging that the school districts and its officers, employees or agents incur no liability for damage, injury, or death resulting directly or indirectly from the self-administration of medication and agreeing to release, indemnify and hold the district and its officers, employees and agents, harmless from and against any claims relating to the self-administration of medication allowed by this policy.

Additional Requirements for Students Prone to Specified Emergencies

• The school district shall require that any back-up medication provided by the student's parent or guardian be kept at the student's school in a location to which the student has immediate access if there is an asthma or anaphylaxis emergency;
• The school district shall require that necessary and pertinent information be kept on file at the student's school in a location easily accessible if there is an asthma or anaphylaxis emergency;
• Eligible students shall be allowed to possess and use approved medications at any place where the student is subject to the jurisdiction or supervision or the school district, its officers, employees or agents; or
• The board may adopt policy or handbook language which imposes additional requirements relating to the self-administration of medication allowed for in this policy and may establish a procedure for, and the conditions under which, the authorization for student self-administration of medication may be revoked.

Over-the-Counter Medications

A student may self-administer specified over-the-counter medications with written parental authorization on file in the school office.

The student's parent or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging that the school district and its officers, employees, or agents incur no liability for damage, injury, or death resulting directly or indirectly from the self-administration of over-the-counter medication and agreeing to release, indemnify, and hold the district and its officers, employees, and agents harmless from and against any claims relating to the self-administration of medication allowed by this policy.

Misuse of Medications

Self-administration of any medication, including prescription and over-the-counter medication, at a dosage or rate exceeding product label instructions may result in denial of the privilege to self-administer any medication and/or disciplinary action as outlined in policy JDDAA.