South Carolina § 63-13-185 - Childcare facility medication administration to children.

§ 63-13-185. Childcare facility medication administration to children.

(A) For purposes of this section, "medication" means a drug that may be obtained with or without a prescription, excluding a topical ointment obtained without a prescription.

(B) It shall be unlawful for a director, owner, operator, caregiver, employee, or volunteer of a childcare facility to administer medication to a child under the care of the facility unless:

(1) the parent or guardian of the child has submitted to the childcare facility prior to the administration of the medication a signed and dated parental consent form that authorizes the facility to administer the medication to the child, and the authorization is for not longer than one year;

(2) the medication is administered as stated on the label directions, or as amended in writing by the child's health care provider; and

(3) the medication is not expired.

(C) Notwithstanding subsection (B), a director, owner, operator, caretaker, employee, or volunteer of a childcare facility may administer medication to a child without a signed authorization if the parent or guardian:

(1) submits to the facility an authorization in an electronic format that is capable of being viewed and saved; or

(2) authorizes the childcare facility by telephone to administer a single dose of a medication.

(D) This section does not apply to a person who administers a medication as prescribed, directed, or intended, to a child, when that person has a good faith belief the child is suffering from a medical emergency and administering medication would prevent the death or serious injury of the child.

(E) A childcare facility shall maintain in each child's record all written documentation and records of verbal communication that confirm parental or guardian permission to administer medication to the minor child as required pursuant to this section.

(F) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned for up to one year or fined not more than two thousand dollars, or both.

HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 295 (H.4665), SECTION 1, eff June 23, 2014.