Teacher Mistakes Boy's Insulin Pump For Phone, Rips It Out

AP ^ | 10/5/05

[linkinpunk]

Teacher Mistakes Boy's Insulin Pump For Phone, Rips It Out

Boy Is Diabetic

POSTED: 11:16 am EDT October 5, 2005

CLERMONT, Fla. -- School officials in Lake County, Fla., said a substitute teacher pulled out a student's insulin pump after mistaking it for a cell phone.

Cliffton Hassam told East Ridge High School officials that his insulin pump began beeping in class Friday. But before he could turn it off, Hassam said substitute teacher Richard Maline ripped it from his leg.

Hassam is diabetic. The insulin pump regulates his blood sugar level.

Lake County School District officials said Maline pulled the pump because he thought the beeping came from a cell phone. They said Maline realized his mistake after he grabbed the pump.

In the written statement Hassam gave to school officials Tuesday, he said the pump fell to the floor and the tube came out of his leg. The high school junior said his blood sugar levels did not return to normal until early this week.

School district officials said Maline has been removed from the pool of substitute teachers.

[Marty]

Thanks. I no longer sub for the high school level due to immense frustration both with teachers, students and with the administration which fears lawsuits. The biggest problem our schools face today has to do with the lack of discipline in the schools. There is a marked inability and/or unwillingness to discipline the students so that the teachers can get their jobs done. Many simply give up and walk away in disgust.

[Riverman94610]

"It was a substitute,not a teacher"
Thems fightin' words,buddy!
Riverman,in the public school trenches when I am feeling the need to live dangerously.

[Texas Songwriter]

Yes, but if that happened at a hospital, a lawsuit would ensue. Get out the checkbook. They will have to access the vessel again.

[TXBubba]

Since you are there then I hope they give you some training in these things. Apparently this person had no idea about this student's health concerns. Aren't you guys supposed to be informed about some of these things when you work with kids? And I haven't figured out why "thems fightin' words" to correct the facts in the statement.

[A CA Guy]

If the teacher wants to go alpha, he'd better know darn well what he's getting into.

[Marty]

There are lots of things that are considered private these days, and health issues are among them. Some teachers use common sense and figure that the sub needs to know. Others don't. There are also anger management situations in which a student is given the privilege to simply leave the classroom -- that's it, just up and leave and go to a time out area where they are supposed to check in. Teachers don't bother to tell subs and we have no way of knowing short of searching their desks and files--which isn't comfortable or desirable. Many teachers leave desks, files, closets, cabinets locked up so that their students don't liberate items. As for other students telling us--we are routinely lied to. Many students will tell a sub anything that they want us to believe.

[TXBubba]

Then I would say the actual teacher or school should be part of any lawsuit...for not properly informing the sub of health issues. When we take field trips with our children (all be it we are in a private school) we have health records with us for each kid in case of an emergency. I think the same could be instituted for a sub. situation.

[radiohead]

Google "pap smear".

LOL. Giving birth in front of 10 or so people runs a close second.

[radiohead]

Don't diabetics wear bracelets for i.d.?

I guess many do, but many don't. I don't wear one. As someone said upstream, your health is a privacy issue. I'm very upfront w/my diabetes, but many others have a need to hide their condition.

Aside from job issues, many people just don't feel a need to advertise their health status to others. How many people with HIV/AIDS are walking around w/a bracelet on??

[Blessed]

Once you backed off of an order you gave you lost all credibility with the kids.Find another school we don't need you rewarding bad behavior.Your action was just as bad as the guy who ripped the pump.

[radiohead]

The teacher was probably thinking of those new phones that kids just plug into the port in the back of their heads.

ROFLMAO!

I can think of a few people who'd stand in line to get that operation!

[4mer Liberal]

"Snatching nonweapons out of kids' hands is not SOP."

It is in my daughter's parochial school, according to her. She says that the teacher's will confiscate it and they will never get it back. If this is true, I have assured her there will be a huge lawsuit against them, or at least one irate dad seriously in the principle's face. Could be melodrama...after all, she's 13 gong on 21.

[Clara Lou]

Teachers know best. That's what they keep telling us.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.........

Another Professional Educator!
What incisive comments! /not In case you people can't read [or didn't bother] this is a substitute teacher. For all you know, this sub was a retired accountant.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

They said Maline realized his mistake after he grabbed the pump.

I don't care if it was a cell phone. You don't go putting your hands on other people, period.

[Marty]

No, I learned my lesson because the administration doesn't always back the subs. But, the student knew that I was going to leave a note and she behaved for the rest of the block. Had I chosen to press the issue, I'd have had to search her bag and that would have made things worse. Besides, according to the rules, her refusal was a 'write-up' offense as long as I reported it to the teacher. Best guess is that nothing will be done. I won't return to that class.

[Utilizer]

LOL!!! I concur!

(not to mention Prostate Exams)

*wince*

[The Westerner]

Many years ago when I was raised, it was considered a universal signal to an id bracelet when caring for an accident victim. I did not know that attitudes had changed. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want that to be instantly identified, particularly a diabetic going into shock. Perhaps you have some other means...and I hope you don't say it's in your wallet.

[chiefqc]

Semms like the wrong people are teaching classes and running the schools.

[Rebelbase]

Mistakes happen...

Unfortunately this mistake is going to cost the taxpayers of that county some $$.

[Russ]

Having served on a school board for 12 years I could tell you about mistakes that cost taxpayers money until your head would spin.