Can he administer medication or pull out the tick? Teachers have to wait for the law

“We have decided to go the route of major legislative amendments to the Act on Specific Health Services, so that the changes are clear for the entire department,” Deputy Minister of Health Josef Pavlovic (Piráti) told the editors.

Parental permission and a doctor’s dosage recommendation are necessary for administering medication to children with diabetes. But the responsibility for the consequences lies with the one who administers the medicine. This also applies to common medicines for pain or nausea. And that is why many resist it.

“Medications could only be given orally at school, but we would need the consent of the pupil’s legal representatives and instructions on the dosage and timing of the administration of the medicinal substance from the doctor,” explained the director of the elementary and kindergarten in Věžnice, Ivo Kuttelwascher.

When the children are at school, we inform the legal representatives and do not remove the tick.

They do not administer drugs in another form, such as by injection. A parent must do this. But it does not only apply to medicines. There are also different approaches to extracting a stuck tick. While in Věžnice they would call the parents and ask them for their consent and acceptance of possible risks with the removal of the parasite by a trained teacher-health practitioner, at ZŠ in Hradec Králové they would proceed differently.

“When the children are at school, we inform the legal representatives and do not remove the tick. If the students go to school in the countryside where there is a medic, we will take him out,” explained director Ondřej Fajfr.

The resort also wants to give legal support to cantors in situations such as heating home-prepared food that children have brought in a box. According to some legal interpretations, the teacher takes responsibility for the food if he takes it from the child and warms it up for him.

What GPs for children are pushing for the most is the abolition of unnecessary certificates that parents require of them. Whether it’s excuses from school or reviews for a ski course. The Act on specific health services should clarify the conditions for issuing documents.

It is within the parent’s full competence to excuse a child at school, but some still demand an apology from the pediatrician

“Perhaps outdoor school is part of compulsory schooling. Why should I comment on this as a doctor? The same swimming course as part of physical education, which is mandatory,” objected the chairwoman of the Professional Society of Pediatric Practitioners Alena Šebková.

“I understand that a sick child should be exempt from gym, yes. Otherwise, most confirmations are unnecessary. We are trying to fix it,” she added.

survey

There are currently around 1,800 pediatric practices in the Czech Republic, so 300 more would be needed. There are around 180,000 children without a registering doctor.

Paperwork takes time away from pediatricians’ care. Evergreen are emails from parents asking for excuses. “It is within the parent’s full competence to excuse a child at school, but some still demand an apology from the pediatrician,” emphasized Deputy Pavlovic. The school rules are not binding for pediatricians.

The rules for issuing reports on medical fitness will probably be subject to changes as well. The department wants to submit the amendment to the comment procedure in the spring of next year.