#120 Caring for Severely Food Allergic Children: Some Key Legal Issues

Many providers have, at some time, struggled with the question of whether they should agree to care for a child with severe food allergies. Some providers feel the responsibility of caring for a child with a life-threatening food allergy is too great and will decline to accept or will disenroll the child. Providers must be keenly aware that a child with a severe allergy could be considered disabled under federal and/or state law. The purpose of this report is to share with providers some general information pertaining to severe food allergies in children, identify some key legal issues relating to the care of children with severe allergies, offer some recommendations as to how risk may be minimized and share with providers some additional sources of information pertaining to allergies.