May 29, 2007
Other
Question from Florida, USA:
My daughter was implicated in a bomb threat by her best friend. She was arrested at school. The school resource officer as well as the sheriff’s officer were both well aware that she is a type 1 diabetic. When she asked for her monitor, the officer asked if she had taken her medicine and she said yes, so he responded, “Well, you are fine.” She sat at the police station for three hours without a way to test her sugar other than to call 911. When we arrived, we had to go and buy a new monitor because we were under the impression she had one with her. She also was feeling hypoglycemic. Has anyone had any issues or heard of anything along these lines and what was done?
Answer:
The circumstances of access to medical services for those arrested and awaiting pretrial processing are very fact specific. This is an issue that could be best discussed with an attorney licensed to the practice of law in your state.
DSH
Additional comments from Debbie Butler, MSW, LICSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker:
It does not sound like your daughter should have been denied the right to check her blood sugar particularly if she thought she was hypoglycemic. I would recommend that you call the American Diabetes Association’s Advocacy Department and tell them your concerns and see if they have any further recommendations.
DB
