Pets, PTSD, and Pot at School in New Jersey
Pets
Earlier this week, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno signed a law that requires veterinary practices to provide their customers with written confirmation as to whether their pets will receive supervision outside of normal business hours.
“Betsy’s Law” is named after a Rottweiler who accidentally strangled herself during an overnight stay at the vet’s office.
While the goal of this law is to protect both vets and animals by requiring more transparency during the veterinary visit procedure, some argue that the law is unnecessary.
Since Betsy’s Law does not actually require surveillance of pets around the clock, there is no guarantee that animals will be safer, only that owners will be more knowledgeable about the amount of supervision they receive.
Non-supporters have taken issue with a law that may give the New Jersey government unnecessary reach. Supporters, on the other hand, have the well-being of their pets in mind, and hope this law will prevent another tragedy like Betsy’s.
PTSD
A Camden judge dismissed a suit regarding the failure of officers to evaluate and provide treatment for a driver’s PTSD after a fatal accident.
While driving a trash truck in reverse on November 24th, 2014, a seasonal employee of Sea Isle City struck and backed over a pedestrian.
This driver, Andrew Mattern, presented a due process claim under 42 U.S.C. 1983 against Sea Isle City and four police officers, arguing that a serious medical need may exist for psychological or psychiatric conditions like his PTSD.
U.S. District Chief Judge Jerome Simandle of the District of N.J. found that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate that he had a serious medical need or that the police officers were purposefully indifferent to that need.
Simandle also rejected Mattern’s claim that “it must be the policy of this state that when one is in control of a vehicle that kills someone, that person must be evaluated for shock and emotional trauma.”
Simandle referenced Mattern’s failure to act in a way that suggested his condition, demonstrate his need for psychiatric attention, and the failure of both Mattern and his wife to request psychiatric treatment.
Simandle said, “The court declines plaintiffs’ invitation to create a new constitutionally mandated rule requiring all first responders to treat individuals involved in deadly car accidents for shock and other post-traumatic stress.”
Pot at School
On Tuesday, a state judge ruled that Lora Barbour cannot bring her daughter Genny cannabis oil at school, despite the medical marijuana’s effectiveness in controlling the N.J. girl’s epileptic seizures.
Administrative Law judge John S. Kennedy said that state and federal drug possession laws supersede the Barbour family’s right to use the drug on school grounds.
This is the third time the Barbour family has brought the case regarding their daughter’s medication to court, and it is the third time they have been met with defeat.
Roger and Lora Barbour attempted to sue the nurse at their daughter’s special education school in order to require the nurse to administer Genny’s cannabis oil.
Since April, Genny, who is diagnosed with autism, has attended only half-days of school so that she can receive her dose of cannabis oil at home.
Genny’s parents are confident that the case regarding their daughter will eventually be ruled in their favor.
Meanwhile, a bill requiring schools to allow students with developmental disorders, like Genny, to consume edible cannabis at school was passed by state Legislature earlier this summer. This bill awaits action by Gov. Chris Christie, and it could mean all the difference to the Barbours.