Following the tragic event at the Pennsylvania State University, there has been an increased review of campus policies on medical amnesty nationwide. This has not been the first occurrence of this nature nor the first push to incentivize medical care for intoxicated individuals nationwide. Yet in face of this already present incentivization, campuses and communities across the nation must review policy to determine how similar events keep occurring.

In a review of the Medical Amnesty policy for the University of Virginia found under the Gordie Center - Student health website; two clauses stand out in conflict to one another. The first clause states “UVA DOES NOT notify police when a student is seen in the ER for alcohol related incidents.” And the second “Any 911 call from Grounds WILL result in automatic University Police response.” So if you can get to the hospital, you’re safe, but if you call for transportation to the hospital, you’re out of luck. It should be noted that right underneath the second clause, an indented bullet states the “officer’s primary emphasis is to provide assistance and see that the student receives emergency care.” This statement cannot assure students amnesty from doing the right thing. An officer’s primary emphasis is to provide assistance but the second is to uphold the law. In many situations, this can complicate a person’s decision to call medical assistance when confronted with a passed out individual.

Confronted by the possibility of either the afflicted student or assisting individual receiving a legal citation, few options remain in the situation. One option is to get the afflicted student to the hospital on their own. Without a sober driver, this is not an option or in an even worse case scenario, it incentivizes drunk or buzzed driving. In the worst situation; a gamble is made that the afflicted student will recover on their own and can sleep off the intoxication. Often times in this gamble the student’s wellbeing is levied against the scenario that they did not actually need to go to the hospital, and that erring on the side of caution has resulted in court dates and ink on permanent records for the student as well as the people they were with.

There are situations in which charges and investigations should be conducted, and it appears that the universities policy does address this: “On occasion, police follow up and investigation will take place if it is deemed necessary.” But to prevent the next tragic loss, the call to medical assistance must be made. In order to ensure the lifesaving call is made, students on grounds must be assured that doing the right thing will not result in a long punitive processes stemming from the in the moment arrival of a police officer.

-AC