LYMEPOLICYWONK: Students at risk for Lyme: Will lawsuits make a difference?

Two laws suits may help create this needed change.  The parents of a New York girl are suing a Connecticut summer camp for $41.7 million for failing to protect their daughter who contracted Lyme disease at the camp. In another case, a woman in college contracted encephalitis on a school trip to China as a result of a tick bite, incurred brain damage, and was awarded $41.7 million.

These types of suits, in addition to compensating students harmed by lax policies, can make a difference in school and summer camp policies.  As every parent knows, consequences matter. If you are worried about your school policies on field trips or summer camp, you might print out these newspaper articles (links below) and share them with your school or camp when you suggest they increase their prevention programs for ticks. Money motivates.

The LYME POLICY WONK blog is written by Lorraine Johnson, JD, MBA, who is the Chief Executive Officer of LymeDisease.org, formerly CALDA. Contact her at lbjohnson@lymedisease.org.

Parents Suing Summer Camp For Nearly $42M After Daughter Contracts Lyme Disease, CBS local news (October 16, 2013).  http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2013/10/16/parents-suing-summer-camp-for-nearly-42m-after-daughter-contracts-lyme-disease/

Woman Who Contracted Encephalitis on School Trip Awarded $41.7M, ABC World News (March 29, 2013).  http://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-contracted-encephalitis-school-trip-awarded-417m/story?id=18840034