The paranoia about lawsuits is unbelievable...

[dymed]

So this morning I'm coaching a high school lacrosse team when I notice that one of the players doesn't seem to be performing as well as she usually does. I don't think much of it other than it was early and she was just tired or something. A bit before practice ends, she falls to the ground with her hands on her stomach. I rush over to her and ask her what's wrong. She tells me that she's been having these major stomach aches for the past two weeks and that she thinks it's because of the Accutane she started about a month ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, if you have ever had to take Accutane or seen the little pamphlet that comes in the box with it, you'd know that the list of side effects is long enough to be a short novel. It's an incredibly powerful drug with massive side effects that range from vomitting to suicidal thoughts to depression. One of the most common is gastrointestinal (GI) disease. Basically, acids and enzymes in your stomach start "eating" away at the stomach lining. I've been fortunate enough to never have to take Accutane, but I have had to take the active ingredient (isotretinoin) in small doses in a different medicine. That enough was too much for me; for about a month I suffered through GI disease. It was horrible, one of most painful experiences of my life. It comes and goes throughout the day and stays for hours at a time sometimes. You can't sleep or walk or do much. If you lay down, the pain gets worse. Many nights I've had to just sit up in my bed and wait for it to go away so I could get some rest. Not a fun time of my life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, I realize that this is what was happening to her. I called her parents and they said they were coming to pick her up and take her to the hospital. It was going to be at least 45 minutes before she got there though. I also happen to know that Alka Seltzer eases the pain a bit for a while. It's not any miracle cure or anything, but it provides temporary relief. And that would be enough to stop the poor girl from feeling like she was dying. So I gave another kid a dollar to go buy some alka seltzer from the vending machine. By the time she came back with it, the manager of the team had gotten to the field. I opened up the seltzer, and the guy stops me from giving it to her. Says that I'm not allowed to do that. I tell him that I know it'll help her because that's what Alka Seltzer is meant for. I ask the girl if she wants some and she says yes. Still, the moron won't let me give some to her. He starts going on about how it's protocol not to give any substances and how he is responsible for all the coaches and how he might get sued if anything happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this point, I felt like slapping him. Alka Seltzer is hardly a "substance" that would be against any protocol. Anyone with a dollar can get it from pretty much any vending machine. Some people drink it just for the taste. Also, this girl was a bit more than just one of my players. I've known her and her parents for a few years now. Tutored her for school, even ate dinner at their house a bunch of times. She even said she wanted some. There is no way her parents would have done anything except give their thanks if she drank some of it. I told him this and the idiot kept saying stuff like "sorry, but I can't take the risk." She even consented to taking it, but he said it did not matter because she was a minor (16 or 17.) Unbelievable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the girl had to sit there in agonizing pain until her parents came, which is when I gave them the can to give to her. She drank it and started feeling a little better within minutes. She was able to walk to the car herself without much trouble and they were off to get her checked out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously, this paranoia some people have about getting sued is ridiculous. Can anyone actually relate to the guy or anything? Maybe if I wanted to give Tylenol or something, I could understand. Also, if anyone knows anything about what certification you need to have to be administering Alka Seltzer (that phrase sounds rediculous...) I'd like to know. I've been looking around for it, but can't find anything. It's an over-the-counter "drug" and is more "food" than anything. :?

[Lionheart_0]

No its not parinoia, its about safty. What if in some freak way she had an allergic reaction, one of the ingrediants reacted wrong, or anything else? Besids the chance of sueing, you are putting her life in harms way by giving her the substance. I was tought in any and all medical classes ive taken throughout my 15 years, that you NEVER EVER give someone a substance until parametic get there, or they are at a hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bad idea bud.

[logic-is-overrated]

Suing people has become the American way. It's excessive sure, but it's far from being unreasonable.

[insane]

As much as I hate to say it, I agree with the guy that wouldn't let you give it to her - though that is not my position on how things *should* be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's sick - but it's true, that in some cases, if you had given a parent's daughter alka-seltzer, you'd have been sued. That's how ridiculous today's society is. I hate the court system, I hate lawsuits, why can't everyone get along? Why can't people just be wronged for a change? Be humble, step back, and take an apology without a million dollars attached to it...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meh :P it seems as soon as 1am hits I start to rant... [/rant].

[magekillr]

well...being a certified lifeguard...i have always been told that if the girls parents are not present...and she wishes to be treated...then she may be treated...im not sure if a trainer counts though :?

[Lionheart_0]

well...being a certified lifeguard...i have always been told that if the girls parents are not present...and she wishes to be treated...then she may be treated...im not sure if a trainer counts though :?

 

 

 

:? I guess being a life guard you would know more, just ive always been told to do what i can to keep them concouse, and thinking. But never give them a substance.... then again this was first aid training, diffrent then life guard stuff.

[magekillr]

yeah...i think maybe with lifeguarding they are referring to CPR, rescue breathing, cuts, bruises, etc...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

unsure about the substances...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i have my book handy...ill brb

[Lionheart_0]

yeah...i think maybe with lifeguarding they are referring to CPR, rescue breathing, cuts, bruises, etc...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

unsure about the substances...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i have my book handy...ill brb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well i did take a CPR course, and if they are not breathing, you can do it as if they gave you permision. but if they are concouse, you have to ask permission fo anything. Not sure about minors though, think their parents have the say, as you said already.

[knives669]

I guess I can understand what the guy was saying. But, that just seems a little extreme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once when I was at school, a girl had an asthma attack and they wouldn't let her use her inhaler until her parents got there. So, I'd have to agree with you. The paranoia of being sued is rediculous. But, people today sue over the stupidest things... :roll:

[rocketman089]

I guess I can understand what the guy was saying. But, that just seems a little extreme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once when I was at school, a girl had an asthma attack and they wouldn't let her use her inhaler until her parents got there. So, I'd have to agree with you. The paranoia of being sued is rediculous. But, people today sue over the stupidest things... :roll:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highly unlikely. When a kid has bad asthma and has to carry an inhaler around, the child's parents have to get everything clear through the school nurse so that they can carry their inhaler around. When a kid has an asthma attack, they're at risk for a number of things, shock, unconciousness, and sometimes even death if they aren't treated immediatly. It's highly unlikely the school prevented her from using her own inhaler.

[Lionheart_0]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once when I was at school, a girl had an asthma attack and they wouldn't let her use her inhaler until her parents got there.

 

 

 

Now thats just stupid. It obviously was made for that sole purpose to help stop attacks, so they should of let her use it. But witht he Alka Suilzur (sp?), there are to manny variables.

[magekillr]

i wish this book had an index lol

[____]

I've always been under the impression that it was illegal or something to give anyone (at least in school) any kind of drug (there's somethings you can but i dunno what they are) unless it was on one of those wrist band things which some people have...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefull you people get the point?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cliffs: Dude was wrong to tell you not to give the chick anything.

[knives669]

 

I guess I can understand what the guy was saying. But, that just seems a little extreme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once when I was at school, a girl had an asthma attack and they wouldn't let her use her inhaler until her parents got there. So, I'd have to agree with you. The paranoia of being sued is rediculous. But, people today sue over the stupidest things... :roll:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highly unlikely. When a kid has bad asthma and has to carry an inhaler around, the child's parents have to get everything clear through the school nurse so that they can carry their inhaler around. When a kid has an asthma attack, they're at risk for a number of things, shock, unconciousness, and sometimes even death if they aren't treated immediatly. It's highly unlikely the school prevented her from using her own inhaler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The parents hadn't even let the nurse know that their child had asthma. At my school, all medication that is required to be taken during the day has to be registered at the office. They wouldn't let her use her inhaler because they didn't know she had asthma because her parents hadn't specified that she did, and they didn't even know if it was HER inhaler. (There's a pretty big drug problem at my school and they're very paranoid about kids abusing medication such as inhalers.)

[rocketman089]

 

 

 

The parents hadn't even let the nurse know that their child had asthma. At my school, all medication that is required to be taken during the day has to be registered at the office. They wouldn't let her use her inhaler because they didn't know she had asthma because her parents hadn't specified that she did, and they didn't even know if it was HER inhaler. (There's a pretty big drug problem at my school and they're very paranoid about kids abusing medication such as inhalers.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what did they do? Pluck it from her fingers and told her she wasn't allowed to use it while they stood by and watched her suffer from an asthma attack?

[knives669]

 

 

 

 

The parents hadn't even let the nurse know that their child had asthma. At my school, all medication that is required to be taken during the day has to be registered at the office. They wouldn't let her use her inhaler because they didn't know she had asthma because her parents hadn't specified that she did, and they didn't even know if it was HER inhaler. (There's a pretty big drug problem at my school and they're very paranoid about kids abusing medication such as inhalers.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what did they do? Pluck it from her fingers and told her she wasn't allowed to use it while they stood by and watched her suffer from an asthma attack?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She had the inhaler in her purse, and that's what she told them. They wouldn't allow her to go get her purse. They just made her sit there and wait for her mom.

[Mercifull]

I don't think its the lawsuit that you should be worried about. Id be more worried about the girls life. You should NEVER give medication to a child without approval for their own safety.

[dymed]

I don't think its the lawsuit that you should be worried about. Id be more worried about the girls life. You should NEVER give medication to a child without approval for their own safety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her life wasn't in danger or anything, she was just in a lot of pain. If it was a matter of life or death, I would have given it to her regardless of what he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm at work right now (hospital) and I just asked some of the doctors and med students whether Alka Seltzer is classified as a drug/medication and it looked like they were going to laugh at me. It's a drink that makes you burp, letting you get rid of gases inside your stomach and breaking up acid. It's not much different than Sprite or something. In fact, it's not much different than giving Listerine to your friend because her breath smells. :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even on the commercials for Alka Seltzer, they advertise some guy at a restaurant having some digestion problems and then his wife gives him some Alka Seltzer and he continues eating. Same thing with Tums, and more people probably buy Tums as candy rather than for heartburn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lionheart, I also asked some doctors if there were any serious side-effects (again, associating Seltzer and side-effects sounds ridiculous) or any allergic reactions to it, and they said there were none. It's very similar to drinking unflavored, uncaffeinated, sugar-free soda that's much more carbonated with a bit of other things in it (the most medical being aspirin without ibuprofen.) Nothing more. They said the certification needed to "administer" Seltzer is the same certification needed to "administer" a piece of chocolate to your friend. In fact, it's probably more dangerous to share chocolate because more people have allergies to chocolate rather than an antacid. :lol:

[Mercifull]

Contrary to your belief Alka Seltzer is not just a "drink that makes you burp". It contains acetylsalicylic acid (asprin) which is a relatively powerful drug which is not tolerated by everyone and should not generally be taken at all by children or adolescents due to its linkage to Reye's syndrome. An allergic reaction to asprin can also enduce a seizure and vomiting blood. I know you were only trying to be helpful but you should never administer ANY medication no matter how harmless you think it is without authorisation from a professional.

[dymed]

Contrary to your belief Alka Seltzer is not just a "drink that makes you burp". It contains acetylsalicylic acid (asprin) which is a relatively powerful drug which is not tolerated by everyone and should not generally be taken at all by children or adolescents due to its linkage to Reye's syndrome. An allergic reaction to asprin can also enduce a seizure and vomiting blood. I know you were only trying to be helpful but you should never administer ANY medication no matter how harmless you think it is without authorisation from a professional.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I said Alka Seltzer, I was talking generally to the drinks found in vending machines like Canada Dry and such. Kind of like referring to all sticky pads as "Post-Its" or referring to making a copy as making a "Xerox."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, there is not a chance that a cup of Alka Seltzer would have given this girl Reye's syndrome. First of all, Reye's is a rare disease even in children. Although it is described as affecting people under the age of 20, it's main demographic is infant to around 11 or 12. A healthy girl the age of 17 coming down with Reye's is incredibly rare. I don't know how much you know about it (I don't know a lot, but I studied it two years ago, don't remember TOO much), but Reye's comes around only after a viral infection was treated with aspirin. Reye's happens during the recovery period; a child seems to be getting better from something like influenza and then he starts getting worse rapidly is the most common sign of it. Another major disease that Reye's may happen after is chickenpox. Antacids do not have enough aspirin in it to be considered a serious possibility for inducing Reye's anyway, unless like a 9 year old overdoses on it. It would have to be something more like Advil or something that is primarily used as an aspirin. You wouldn't give Alka Seltzer to someone who needs an aspirin. Also, this girl had no viral infection or cold or anything. A 17 year old girl with GI problems for about half a month being treated with Alka Seltzer triggering Reye's Syndrome is something that is pretty much unheard of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like I said, Seltzer, found in vending machines, should hardly be considered a medication. It definately cannot be considered as aspirin. Talking to the people here, they are saying it would have been fine to give her Alka Seltzer tablets, even moreso some Canada Dry.

[Bubsa]

As much as I hate to say it, I agree with the guy that wouldn't let you give it to her - though that is not my position on how things *should* be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's sick - but it's true, that in some cases, if you had given a parent's daughter alka-seltzer, you'd have been sued. That's how ridiculous today's society is

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very well said. It seems silly but you can't just give medicine out like that. While for 99% of people it may provide relief, for 1% it could have side effects. While the chance is still very slim, you can't risk it. Leave that to doctors.

[indy500fan]

just thought id clear one thing up, the original poster made accutane sound really really bad (which it is side effect wise), but it works. my doctor gave me all kinds of different acne medicines for about 2 years, and none of them helped a bit. i had it pretty bad (as did everyone else in my family, dad had it till he was in his 30's :shock: ), but after 6 months on accutane you couldnt tell i ever had it. or that my dad had it for 20+ years, or that my sister had it for a few years. the side effects do kinda kill you though, your lips are always chaped, does cause depression (good idea for my parents to ground me for 2 months for a speeding warning[not a ticket] right in the middle of my taking it :evil: ) that can cause suicide, and it caused me to break out in a case of some other skin problem, dont know the technical term but it translated into "skin writing", i could literally draw my fingernail across my arm, and about 2 minutes later there would be a streak about 1/8th to 1/4th inch wide that got really red and itched. now imagine itching all over your body, which it did from such things as sitting back in a chair, that was enough to inflame my back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and if you dont want to read that: accutane really really bad, but it works.

[dymed]

just thought id clear one thing up, the original poster made accutane sound really really bad (which it is side effect wise), but it works. my doctor gave me all kinds of different acne medicines for about 2 years, and none of them helped a bit. i had it pretty bad (as did everyone else in my family, dad had it till he was in his 30's :shock: ), but after 6 months on accutane you couldnt tell i ever had it. or that my dad had it for 20+ years, or that my sister had it for a few years. the side effects do kinda kill you though, your lips are always chaped, does cause depression (good idea for my parents to ground me for 2 months for a speeding warning[not a ticket] right in the middle of my taking it :evil: ) that can cause suicide, and it caused me to break out in a case of some other skin problem, dont know the technical term but it translated into "skin writing", i could literally draw my fingernail across my arm, and about 2 minutes later there would be a streak about 1/8th to 1/4th inch wide that got really red and itched. now imagine itching all over your body, which it did from such things as sitting back in a chair, that was enough to inflame my back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and if you dont want to read that: accutane really really bad, but it works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, didn't mean to make it sound like it doesn't work. Believe me, I'd be the first to say it does. I've seen plenty of friends go on it with bad acne and come out with skin smoother than marble. It's like a miracle drug, IF (and it's a pretty big if) your body can actually handle it for 6-12 months. Usually, each month the treatment becomes a bit more intense as the dermatologist prescribes a stronger pill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a very powerful drug. I'd only recommend it for severe acne and when everything else (and I mean EVERYTHING) has failed to work. But who knows, I've seen a few patients who have been on an Accutane regimen for 12 months and only complained about minor dry skin. There are those who get lucky. I wouldn't count on that though.

[hammerhand]

In truth you were right. In all reality you were right, and in the end you were right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are regulations in alot of things that make no sense at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An obvious example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the U.S. military is issueing weapons they have to lock them up after each time they issue weapons . The problem? They may only issue one weapon at each issue. So as a result every time they hand a recrut a weapon they have to relock up the weapons and unlock them again for the next recruit. So as a result what could have taken 5 minutes takes 2 hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for lawsuits themselves, people just have to learn what to sue over since if they do people will fear lawsuits less and the restictions will lessen.

[dark_ice]

Alka-Seltzer always makes me wanna puke after I drink it! I say, as long as she could take the repulsive taste of the stuff, let her have it!