Parent Says Crowley School Refused To Treat Son
CROWLEY (CBSDFW.COM) - A Fort Worth father says a school's refusal to treat his son because of missing paperwork, put the boy in and out of the hospital for a week.
Eight-year-old Mark Salas has recovered from the asthma attack he suffered 11 days ago. His father though said he's not satisfied other children will be treated in an emergency.
"I just want to make sure it doesn't happen," said Ivan Toro. "Because there are special kids in that classroom, and a lot of them are non-verbal."
Toro said his son was congested last week so he took extra asthma medication to Meadowcreek Elementary where the boy is enrolled in the special education program.
Salas is autistic, and does not speak, making it key for caretakers to notice when he may be having an allergic or asthmatic reaction.
"You have to initiate that treatment right away because if you don't, he can relapse so quick," Toro said.
The school took the medication according to Toro and in return gave him some allergy paperwork to be signed by a doctor. Toro said there was no indication the boy would not be cared for without the paperwork. Two hours later however, the boys mother, then his father, both received calls from the school nurse.
"She told me that she couldn't initiate the treatment, the albuterol, because she didn't have his asthma attack paperwork in front of her," Toro said. "My exact words to her were you have the box of albuterol. You told me you would take care of him. If you see that he's tight, and he's wheezing, give him his albuterol. Her exact words were, she couldn't."
In a statement to CBS 11, Crowley ISD said: "Parents/guardians are required to sign a "Medication Administration Authorization Form" … The authorization form for this student was not on file at the school at the time of this incident, so the school nurse did not have authority to administer the prescription."
At the father's urging, the school ended up calling 9-1-1 and paramedics treated the boy before taking him to Cook Children's hospital. He was released later that day but returned that evening when his condition deteriorated.
The district also said it is working to ensure that students with medication needs have update and authorized paperwork on file.
The Following is a statement from Crowley ISD:
Crowley ISD has health safety policies in place to protect every student. Parents/guardians are required to sign a "Medication Administration Authorization Form" each school year before any medications can be given to a student.
Our policy states: Prescription medication shall not be given to students without a specific written request SIGNED by at least one parent or legal guardian. These requests shall be made on the "Medication Administration Authorization Form."
The authorization form for this student was not on file at the school at the time of this incident, so the school nurse did not have authority to administer the prescription. CISD works diligently to ensure appropriate and updated authorization forms are on file for every student who requires medication. We ask parents/guardians to assist us in providing these updated forms in a timely manner so that we can continue to provide a safe, secure and nurturing school environment for all students.
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