More B.C. parents say kids won't get critical medication in schools after policy change
More B.C. parents are coming forward saying a bureaucratic change by the province means their children are no longer eligible to receive potentially life-saving medication at schools, despite being at risk for serious seizures.
If Carmen Elzinga's daughter Naya has a seizure at her Burnaby school she's been told staff soon won't be allowed to give her medication.
"If someone doesn't administer that within five minutes, then she is at high risk of brain damage," Carmen told CTV News.
Naya's neurological condition resulted in 29 surgeries by the time she was seven. Her mom says the seizures don't stop on their own and require medication.
The health ministry recently changed its policy on who qualifies for in-school intervention. If a child hasn't had a serious seizure within the previous 12 months -- starting in September -- staff won't intervene. Instead, a parent or 911 will be called.
Elzinga said she and her husband are now planning for one of them to always be within five minutes of the school.
"They're basically forcing us to choose between the well-being of our daughter and us earning a living," she added.
Hampton Gaudet is in a similar position. His parents say he's had 20 seizures this year at school , but also doesn't qualify under the new policy.
The Health Ministry didn't respond to CTV's questions and instead sent a statement from Saturday describing the new policy.
"To be eligible for Seizure Rescue Intervention Care Plan, a child must have required a rescue intervention over and above basic seizure first aid to stop their seizures. (Seizure first aid includes putting the child in the recue position, maintaining their airway and monitoring them.) If it has been more than 12 months since a child has needed a seizure rescue intervention (medication), the child will be transitioned off an NSS Seizure Rescue Intervention Care Plan and into a Seizure Action Plan in the school setting."
A video from the Cleveland Clinic shows how Naya's medication is administered. After extracting a precise amount, the needle is removed, an atomizer inserted and sprayed into a child's nose. This type of work is typically done by nurses -- but sometimes school staff -- like education assistants -- are trained in case of emergency.
A document explaining the change says a child who hasn't had a seizure in a year could have an acute and unpredictable response and requires a higher level of care then school staff can provide.
Elzinga is frustrated by the change.
"Even if she was to have a seizure, no one at the school would do it. Even if they're trained to give it to another child," she said.
By sharing her story she's hoping the province will reconsider the move for the sake of the families now concerned about their kids' safety.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.