An interesting headline. A bit aggressive for a politician to oppose so medical unions and teachers’ unions to do what should be good for students with medical problems. Kudos to Gov. Jerry Brown and Sen. Bob Huff.
The bill faced opposition from teacher and nurses unions. They say the medication can be dangerous to the student if it is not administered by a trained caregiver familiar with the child’s seizure patterns.[1]
While these unions represent teachers and nurses, they do not receive money directly from children with epilepsy, so they do not represent the interests of these students/patients. It is disappointing, but not surprising, for unions to misbehave in this way. There are concerns about the training and the medication and the assessment skills of the teachers, but these can be addressed as easily as they can for parents, who are trained to give the same medication.
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SB161 by Republican Sen. Bob Huff of Diamond Bar gives public schools the option to train teachers, coaches or others to administer the anti-seizure gel Diastat.[1]
My only objection is to the continued use of diazepam (Valium) and the route of administration – rectally.
1. Diazepam is the wrong drug. It is not absorbed as quickly, so it takes longer to suppress seizures.
2. Rectal administration is the wrong route. It is a route of administration that is perceived as distasteful and therefore may distract us from paying attention to what we are doing. The absorption is slower than by all other routes of administration.
Image credit.[2]
Intranasal midazolam is significantly faster. The route is less invasive and less awkward.
That only leaves one major concern.
Can teachers be trusted to make sure that students are still breathing?
I think that the answer is Yes. With the right training and continuing education.
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Footnotes:
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[1] Brown signs bill aiding students prone to seizures
San Jose Mercury News
The Associated Press
Posted: 10/07/2011 05:54:17 PM PDT
Article
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[2] Intranasal midazolam vs rectal diazepam for the home treatment of acute seizures in pediatric patients with epilepsy.
Holsti M, Dudley N, Schunk J, Adelgais K, Greenberg R, Olsen C, Healy A, Firth S, Filloux F.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010 Aug;164(8):747-53.
PMID: 20679166 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Free Full Text at Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med
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We switched to IN Versed about a year ago, absolutely love it. Granted we’re trying to get Ativan, so I may have a new love once I get that in place.
My service also uses IN Versed. I’ve found it works well, and it’s nice to see the proof over rectal Valium.