Girl, 15, Sues School Nurse Over Pregnancy Test

NBC5i.com ^ | 6/17/05 | AP

[DoughtyOne]

I understand that. I'm not taking offense.

I simply refuse to accept that public schools should provide any medical care other than first aid until the paramedics arrive. If we're talking about verification of vaccinations, I'd be inclined to go along with that. Otherwise nothing more.

This nurse is in this situation because she was traveling in territory she had no business being in, whether sanctioned or not.

[CO Gal]

"This whole thing is intrinsically wrong," said John Hindera, the family's Austin lawyer. "She's a 15-year-old girl that's suddenly being confronted with having sex and being pregnant."

That's funny, since kids are having sex ed forced down their gullets beginning in the 2nd grade. That being said, I student shouldn't be forced/coerced into opening their mouth's and saying Aahh if they don't want to.

[The Brush]

Was the boy arrested for rape citing the outcome of the test?
Any boy who claims he raped somebody should have to go through some consequence.

[PAR35]

Just providing some cross linking. It helps if you read all the threads on FR and memorize them. There are less than 1.5 million of them. A lot fewer if you subtract out the ones that have been pulled.

[wagglebee]

Superb advice, I'll keep it in mind! :)

[Dianna]

That being said, I student shouldn't be forced/coerced into opening their mouth's and saying Aahh if they don't want to.

I think you may need to add an exception here. A school official should be able to perform some procedures related to contagious disease without consent. I'm thinking specifically about head checks for lice.

MANY parents would simply keep their kids out of school for a few days and then bring them back saying the lice were gone. That is less of a problem now that the nurse must check children before returning to school.

An alternative of providing a doctor note if the parent refuses consent for the school nurse is reasonable. I hate to make Dr visits mandatory, it's a hassle and co-pays can add up.

[Born Conservative]

See post 11. My thoughts exactly (I'm also a nurse).

[CO Gal]

You're right, I stand corrected. There should be cases when a student should be examined, but parents should be notified if the examination is not requested by the student.

[TXnMA]

a student at another school claimed he impregnated her

Forget the nurse. Whatever happened to fathers who used to grab their shotguns and go after punks who did (or claimed to have done) things like this to their daughters?

[Krankor]

The nurse was doing it for the girl's own good. It's obvious the girl had a reputation and, if she was pregnant, she could also have a STD. The nurse didn't tell anyone so what's the big deal. The father should thank the nurse.

[Navy Patriot]

The nurse was doing it for the girl's own good. It's obvious the girl had a reputation and, if she was pregnant, she could also have a STD. The nurse didn't tell anyone so what's the big deal. The father should thank the nurse.

Thank her with a lawsuit, maybe.

There was no medical emergency here, the proper procedure would be to contact the parents, provide the information to them for their decision on how to help their daughter and contact the police with the name of the boy that alleged he raped her.

I noticed you made the assumption that the girl was less than truthful and moral. Generous of you.

[Krankor]

I said the girl had a reputation. I did not question her morality or truthfullness.

[Stonedog]

The nurse was doing it for the girl's own good. It's obvious the girl had a reputation and, if she was pregnant, she could also have a STD. The nurse didn't tell anyone so what's the big deal. The father should thank the nurse.

Since when is the nanny state a conservative value?

[Krankor]

I didn't say it was.

[Oztrich Boy]

When you've been here a while, you will find Freepers can be pretty insensitive at detecting sarcasm

(Not that that should bother you. It doesn't bother me)

[Navy Patriot]

I said the girl had a reputation. I did not question her morality or truthfullness.

So the girl's reputation was?

[Chewbacca]

The father of the girl needs to do the following:

1) Get in writing a signed piece of paper from boy stating he got her pregnant.

2) File rape charge against boy.

3) Boy denies charges then sue for defimation of character.

4) Sue nurse for exceeding her authority

[brytlea]

I'm having a difficult time understanding why the girl and her family should get any $$ for this. Depending on what really happened (ya'll seem amazingly inclined to believe the girl adn her father and their lawyer) perhaps the nurse should lose her job, license, or whatever. But, why should the family get anlything?
susie

[Nebr FAL owner]

The manner in which the alledged health care was provided for one thing .You do not order a 15 year old into the nurses office & based only on third ,fourth Or maybe fifth person heresay demand that the 15 year old take a pregnancy test.

It is a violation of good practice standards at the least . Also the law that the school principle cited would not apply for two very serious reasons the medical treatment (pregnancy test)was administered by a nurse NOT a physician & secondly the medical treatment would only be allowed if the girl was pregant in the first place which she wasn't.
No prior diagnosis of pregnancy no legal right to perform health care without parental consent. Also the violations of standards of practice in the giving of the pregnancy test under coercion could be construed as assualt in court.