RE: Limits on laypersons on assisting with medication

[Guest guest]

Those trained in first aid (AHA) are trained on how to assist someone with

their own epi-pen, up to and including injecting it themselves if need be.

Additionally, they are also trained on assisting with meter dose inhalers.

The premise is, if the person is in need then, by all means, help them.

As an instructor, I am very careful to instruct to my students that they are

assisting with that persons' prescribed medication. They are not permitted

to give their patient someone else's medication which becomes practicing

medicine.

I would assume also that a layperson assisting someone with that persons'

own prescribed medication would fall under the Good Samaritan law.

Toni Crippen, LP

From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On

Behalf Of Steve

Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 8:04 PM

To: Texas EMS List

Subject: Limits on laypersons on assisting with medication

This question came from another list, but there was no definitive

answer, so I'll bring it up here (where we're NEVER short of answers!).

As EMS professionals, our administration or medication, or even

assisting with administration of medications, are governed by protocols

and medical direction. And a lot of that is written into the EMS rules

and regulations that apply only to EMS personnel.

But what about laypersons? What is the limit on laypersons giving

another person a non-prescription drug " here, have an aspirin " ? And

what about assisting in an emergency with a prescrption drug that has

already been prescribed for the victim ( " here, let me help you with that

epi-pen " or " do you have a pill for that? Here, take your medicine " ?

This comes up in the context of a first aid provider helping with

something like an epi-pen that has been prescribed by a physician. But

there is a bit of confusion about the case of the OTC drugs too.

Steve

--

Steve LP RIT

AlertCPR Emergency Training Center

1400 Moccassin Trl, Suite 12

ville, TX 75077

[Guest guest]

He layperson attempting to help would be covered under the Good Samaritan Laws.

Hatfield

" The main part of intellectual education is not the acquisition of facts but

learning how to make facts live. " - Oliver Wendell Holmes

www.michaelwhatfield.net

Subject: Limits on laypersons on assisting with medication

To: " Texas EMS List " texasems-l >

Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 8:04 PM

 

This question came from another list, but there was no definitive

answer, so I'll bring it up here (where we're NEVER short of answers!).

As EMS professionals, our administration or medication, or even

assisting with administration of medications, are governed by protocols

and medical direction. And a lot of that is written into the EMS rules

and regulations that apply only to EMS personnel.

But what about laypersons? What is the limit on laypersons giving

another person a non-prescription drug " here, have an aspirin " ? And

what about assisting in an emergency with a prescrption drug that has

already been prescribed for the victim ( " here, let me help you with that

epi-pen " or " do you have a pill for that? Here, take your medicine " ?

This comes up in the context of a first aid provider helping with

something like an epi-pen that has been prescribed by a physician. But

there is a bit of confusion about the case of the OTC drugs too.

Steve

--

Steve LP RIT

AlertCPR Emergency Training Center

1400 Moccassin Trl, Suite 12

ville, TX 75077