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The American Diabetes Association issues the following statement in response to yesterday’s California Court of Appeal ruling in the case of American Nurses Association et al. v. O’Connell, et al.  (California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, Case No. C061150).

The American Diabetes Association expresses extreme disappointment in this ruling, which prevents non-medical school personnel from volunteering to administer insulin to California schoolchildren who are not yet able to self-manage their disease.  Children with diabetes are in danger as a result of this ruling, because there are not enough nurses or other licensed health care professionals available in California’s schools to administer the insulin that young students with diabetes must have in order to be safe at school.  We want to emphasize that the opinion does not say that non-medical school personnel should not be permitted to administer insulin, or cannot do so safely, but only that they are not permitted to do so by currently enacted California law.  Indeed, diabetes experts agree that permitting trained non-medical school personnel to administer insulin is in the best interests of these students.

“Every child with diabetes has a right to be medically safe at school and the right to the same educational opportunities as his or her peers.” commented Nash M. Childs, PE, Chair of the Board of the American Diabetes Association. “Today’s ruling goes against those basic rights. We will continue to fight for fairness and safety for children with diabetes and all those affected by the disease.”

The American Diabetes Association provides information to families of children with diabetes, health care professionals, and school personnel through its Safe at School campaign. Also, through the Association’s Center for Information and Community Support  at 1-800-DIABETES, the Association assists families with school discrimination concerns.