The California Supreme Court has ruled that school employees without medical licenses can give insulin shots to diabetic students in some cases.
Monday’s unanimous ruling reverses a lower court decision that permitted only licensed nurses to give the shots.
Dr. Francisco Prieto is with the American Diabetes Association. He says the ruling is necessary to keep students at understaffed schools safe.
“Most schools do not have a full time nurse present all day long and kids with diabetes need care,” says Prieto.
The American Nurses Association filed the original case. It says the high court ruling could endanger diabetic students by allowing nonprofessionals to give injections. Maureen Cones is with the Association.
“Insulin can be lethal if administered improperly, so we do see a risk to students” says Cones.
The American Nurses Association is considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.