Government vague about medical teacher liability
A new government information brochure on medical procedures at school remains 'vague' about liability risks for teachers and other education staff. The AOb warns teachers and educational supporters against this. "Do not perform medical procedures," says AObpolicy officer Marcel Koning. "You are liable if things go wrong."
Image: Pixabay
Education Minister Arie Slob and fellow Health Minister Hugo de Jonge recently sent the House of Representatives a new brochure: 'Health care during teaching time factsheet'. The document is the successor to an earlier brochure that only dealt with diabetes care in primary education. The new document also covers other medical conditions.
Pupils administer insulin with a hypodermic needle or insert probes; teachers and supporters will have to deal with it on a normal school day. Appropriate education means more often students who need regular medical support in the classroom.
Voluntary
Teachers do not have to perform these actions, it is a voluntary action. “Nevertheless, teachers often feel pressure to perform medical procedures,” says policy officer Koning. “Then the parents sit with the principal, who calls a teacher to ask if they want to do that. And yes, it is also a shame if a child cannot go to school because you do not want to give an injection. They feel pressure. Certainly in these times, with the teacher shortage. If a teacher from the previous group has already agreed and the child otherwise has to go to another school, it is difficult to refuse this. Or if you suddenly get a group because of the shortage. ”
Teachers often feel pressure to perform medical procedures
Vague
Koning believes that the brochure remains vague about the liability risks for teachers. "We have already indicated this to the ministries several times and are now working on a letter to the House of Representatives to bring it back to the attention." The brochure states that the medical procedures are carried out by educational staff as a private person and not on the basis of their position or profession. “It means in concrete terms that the school board is not liable if things go wrong, but the teacher or master who carries out the action. We believe this should be clearly stated so that education staff know what they are getting into. They are not trained to perform medical procedures. ”
In concrete terms, this means that the school board is not liable if things go wrong
With the first brochure on diabetes, the AOb this point. MPs also wanted the ministers to write this down clearly. Koning: “We advise members not to perform medical procedures. Besides, where do you perform that act? Outside of the classroom and who will take care of your class for as long as you remain responsible for? We also ask school principals: don't blame the teachers, because there are other solutions, such as nurses or empower someone for these actions. ”
In the Working Conditions Catalog, the AOb also recommend this together with the PO council.
Adaptation
The ministers wrote in their letter to the House that it is important for the organization of care at school that the position of the teaching staff is clear. That is precisely why, the ministers write, they have the factsheet modified and made clearer. 'The factsheet states who is allowed to provide what care and about which agreements can be made between parents, students and schools, preferably at the beginning of each school year.'
