Is this legal

[pamb]

I am working as a consultant for a state funded childrens home. Medical staff are not required. I was monitoring a med pass for the purpose of correction and teaching. A child came to the home as a respite client. His medication was in a used pill bottle for another patient. The information was covered up with a piece of paper with the respite kids name hand written on it along with the instructions to give bid. I was told that this med was an antibiotic for a spider bite. There were 4 pills in the bottle. I told staff not to give the meds and the reasons why. Not in original container, no dr. order, no name of medication etc. The supervisor was called and told staff just to wait until I left to give it. I was reprimanded the next day and it was implied that I was not a team player , that I should not have told staff what I thought...don't give the medication, and that what they did was perfectly acceptable. As I see it there are at least 3 state funded facilities that did not follow safe standard medication administration policies in this situation. The home from where the child came from, the medical consentor-case manager from CPS and the facility that I work for. This situation has me really bugged. Any feed back.

[pamb]

I appreciate all the input. I also appreciate the support and confirming comments.

I don't think they were forced to hire anyone because of the circumstances of my being hired. If they were forced by medicare/ medicaide, they sure would have followed my suggestions, and maybe, made a plan of correction.

I am not going to report this cause the only one who would get hurt is me!

Believe me, I did consider the boys medical condition when I said to hold the drug. His wound was healing with no s/s if infection. I felt like we could get more appropriate documentation the next day. He had been on his medication for at least 7 days.

I just felt so frustrated due to the circumstances and decisions that were made. This child wasn't hurt but there are reasons we have guidelines in place. Patient safety. The next time an exception is made might be the time someone gets hurt.