Tampa School Nurse Takes Girl's Crutches Away because she Had no Note

Buy an ad on DigitalJournal.com

Amber, who plays soccer, basketball and runs track, hurt her knee while kicking a ball. She was diagnosed with a strained ligament and her knee was immobilized with a brace and she was given crutches to use.

When she returned to school, Denise Mckee the school's LPN, phoned Amber's mother Patricia Elalem requesting a note authorizing the crutches. Elalem indicated hat she was not aware of the need for a note but she called and asked the hospital to fax a note to the school. Problem is, the school's fax machine as not working so the nurse never received the note. Then, according to the Tampa Tribune the nurse confiscated her daughter's crutches.

"She didn't give her access to the elevator. So Amber was forced to walk up and down the stairs until about 1:30 p.m., when she couldn't take the pain anymore."

She said her daughter called saying:

"I can't walk. Come and get me."

On the way home, Amber said,

"You know, the nurse took my crutches this morning and made me walk all day,"

"I got home, took her immobilizer off, and her kneecap was on the side of her leg,"

Amber endured a few days of physical but ultimately needed knee surgery. Then she went to the hospital for a few days due to a reaction to the pain medicine. She has since developed symptoms of an ulcer and has to watch her diet.

Elalem has filed a notice as required by law, of intent to sue the Hillsborough County School District. The school district has 180 days to respond.

Her attorney said he did not know what damages he would seek because Amber is still recovering from surgery to repair her knee.
He said that if Amber walking without the crutches has caused long-term damage, he will pursue a claim that the school nurse violated the girl's civil rights.