practicing medicine without a license

Hey, D! It's way out of line, as a general rule, for the school to make such assumptions as this. An exception, though, is pinkeye. It's so contagious, most schools will just not take a chance. I was made to go home once, when a contact lens tore and inflamed my eye!

I'm not sure how strep throat could be mistaken for pink eye. I'm not saying it can't, but I'm just not sure how. Eh, I wouldn't say for them not to practice medicine, but be careful who they give advice to. Another parent could have gone "oh I have a remedy for that" and treating their kid at home for something they didn't even have, making it worse! Then again a parent who didn't check with the doc first shouldn't be practicing medicine either.

It is not particularly appropriate for them to suggest meds for apparent conditions. Like trying to get parents to get ADD medicines if it is not the problem. There are actually many things that will inflame the eyes. I am glad they paid enough attention to know he was not feeling well, though. I hope he feels better really soon.

I would thank the school for their care and concern, but most certainly let them know I disapproved of unqualified advice. Here in Australia I believe political correctness has gone too far and a teacher is not even allowed to apply a band aid!

hi dawnald wow thats really something He has a strept throat and the nurse diagnosed pink eye., I am sure glad shes just the nurse and not a doctor, I do not think she should be making any kind of diagnosis,its just not her place. Yes they were right, nobody should write prescriptions without seeing the patient, cause you never know what grief that could cause. Poor little Cary strept throat is so miserable, I remember the last time I had one the only thing that did not hurt to swallow was ice water, and the antibotics did work pretty fast but it just seemed like they did not.I think you should do that,clue the school in that p ink eye is not a strept throat at all and practicing medicine without a license isn't very kosher. Hope Carey gets well soon, good luck and God bless.

Actually, antibiotics are required for both. I'm really surprized that they suggested trying to get him a prescription without a Dr. looking at him, though. I guess they think they know it all already. I would set them straight, so they realize that they shouldn't be suggesting such a thing.

I hope you have told them Dawn as this could have turned out pretty bad they should never say that you can get a prescription over the Phone as I do not know any Doctor that would hand one out without seeing the Patient unless it is a repeat prescription

Absolutely! I'd advise the highest authority in the strongest (but most polite) terms. That sort of thing could have horrendous repercussions.

pft...i would. i've had both and i don't know how you could mistake one for the other. it's funny though,strep they still want you to come to school,but pink eye you get the bum rush.

Obviously in this case the person didn't know what they were talking about am glad that you got her into a doc and found out what she has....HappyMylotting hope your day looks brighter tomorrow...

Dearra's encounter was more nerve-wrecking than Cary.. though what Cary having a strep throat and pink eye are two totally different things. Super yikes..

Well, making a guess isn't the same as actually practicing medicine, but I'd probably still mention it, just in case there is a doctor somewhere who will give out a prescription without seeing the child... or perhaps a parent who has left over meds from another child and doesn't bother going to see a doc. I was recently having a conversation with a friend of mine who is an EMT. She has 3 boys who all go to the same school. She was telling me how the school nurse will call her in for one of her boys, and the 2 of them quarrel over which one of them is better equipped to diagnose the child's problem. I think one of the boys had a sore throat, and the nurse asked the mom if she thought it was strep... the mom said "I'm only an EMT, you're a nurse.. you should know better than me!" Of course she still brought the kid to the doc anyways.

I certainly do. That is ridiculous.

that's quite confusing, dawnald. you premised on a pediatrician prescribing something without examining the patient, but your topic is practicing medicine. a pediatrician prescribing without examining the patient doesn't necessarily mean he/she has no license. perhaps, its a little malpractice there, a very unethical practice of the profession -- prescribing medicine without examining and determining the actual ailment.

Hi dawnald, I don't think the school clinic knows what they are doing, i think the best the school should do is call the parents out, I have heard too many horror stories about the schools trying to play doctors. Tamara

Hey dawn! Wow! It's great that they decided to send Cary home and let you know that they thought you should take him to the doctor's at least! But, as for their wrong diagnosis, not so good! I guess his eye was pink because it was teary from the strep throat infection, which is alot more seriuous than pink eye! Anyway, good that you got him to the doc for the meds since we know how contagious strep is! And hope none of the rest of you get it! Give Cary a hug for me because I remember how much strep throats hurt!

Sounds like maybe you should mention that to the school. I have never known a doctor to prescribe anything without seeing the child either. I would think it strange if they did.

I'm a nurse and I got no license but I still get a flood of patients who don't care whether I have a license or not

Yes, that is why I refuse giving telephone orders without fully assessing the patients. It would be dangerous. Besides, we have to weight the kids before we prescribe to calculate the right amount of medicine to give him

That happened to my son a couple of years ago..I got the call to get him and as soon as I picked him up I new it wasn't pink eye, but the school was adamant I take him home..He told me he thought he had an eyelash in his eye and had been rubbing it, but the teacher wouldnt listen. The next day after he had repeated all of this to several of his buddies, half of the boys in english class spent a couple of minutes rubbing their eyes until red and managed to all get the day off. I could have called the school and gave them a heads up I suppose, but they know everything already so I chose to remain silent and smile.