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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nightclub took DDs epipens

506 replies

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 08:56

My DD - 18 and a 1st year uni student - went to a nightclub last night and they refused to let her keep her epipens on her. They said if she needed them
She had to go to the medical room.

She was with a group of friends and had all paid to get in and the venue also refused to refund if they decided not to go in.

AIBU to be absolutely livid and to follow this up with the company.

For context my daughter has a life threatening allergy to nuts - but not peanuts.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 04/03/2023 09:47

They might have got it wrong, but the policy is designed to keep people safe. Talk to them about it of course, but setting out to destroy them for it (as some have suggested with press and licencing) is ridiculous.

Who is baying for them to be 'destroyed'? When people and companies act outrageously and deliberately discriminate against protected groups, if they won't listen, they leave you with no other option but to take it higher and embarrass/force them into doing the right thing in future.

PrincessScarlett · 04/03/2023 09:48

I'm impressed the club has a medical room and a paramedic. They never did in my day.

Was your daughter ok with them taking her EpiPen? Not that it makes the situation acceptable but if she was ok with the situation I'm not sure what else can be done. There is a lot of drugs and spiking incidents in clubs so from a security point of view I can see why they took the EpiPen. However, as others have pointed out, in the event of anaphylaxis then time is absolutely vital in administering an EpiPen.

cakeorwine · 04/03/2023 09:48

Targetted · 04/03/2023 09:43

I've had a quick Google to see if there's any guidance for nightclubs and couldn't find anything. What I did find was dozens of local news reports where women (usually university students actually) have been drugged via "epipen like" devices and the clubs have come in for lots of critism for that.

They might have got it wrong, but the policy is designed to keep people safe. Talk to them about it of course, but setting out to destroy them for it (as some have suggested with press and licencing) is ridiculous.

An Epipen "like " device?

Really - have you seen an EpiPen - they are clearly labelled, clearly medical devices - I would hope it would be easy to tell the difference between an Epipen and a device for spiking.

Maybe they should carry round the prescription as well?

Original poster
anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:49

WandaWonder · 04/03/2023 09:46

How do they know she had one?

And at 18 why on earth are you involved? If she has an issue she can deal with it

Because they check bags

And your second comment is just ridiculous and makes it clear you don't have a loved one with a extremely fast reacting life threatening allergy.

Would I be ok to complain if she died because of this rule or would that also be ridiculous?

OP posts:
bonjello · 04/03/2023 09:50

I think as she's an adult now she should complain herself. You can support her in this. But it happened to her.

cakeorwine · 04/03/2023 09:50

However, as others have pointed out, in the event of anaphylaxis then time is absolutely vital in administering an EpiPen

Does the club want to be that club where someone dies because they took away her Epipen?

VeganStar · 04/03/2023 09:50

NoSquirrels · 04/03/2023 09:10

If they have a medical room, that’s staffed, and she and her group of friends were told where it is, then is it different to a school or education establishment holding the epi pens in their medical room?

At the school where I work the epipen follows the pupils around. The pen is brought to wherever they happen to be, whether it’s the school canteen, gym, hall or playground.

familyissues12345 · 04/03/2023 09:50

No way!! My DS is first year Uni and carries Epipens too, he's never had them taken off him. Although he carries them very discretely - usually in the leg pocket of cargo trousers

Targetted · 04/03/2023 09:50

cakeorwine · 04/03/2023 09:48

An Epipen "like " device?

Really - have you seen an EpiPen - they are clearly labelled, clearly medical devices - I would hope it would be easy to tell the difference between an Epipen and a device for spiking.

Maybe they should carry round the prescription as well?

Show quote history

Yes I have and the only reason they describe it as "Epipen like" is because of the injection site. No one knows what the thing looked like, it could have looked exactly like an epipen. It probably did.

Original poster
anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:51

GrinAndVomit · 04/03/2023 09:47

Your daughter needs to follow this up. If she’s old enough to go nightclubbing, she’s old enough to send an email of complaint without her mum.

Urgh I wasn't asking for parenting advice. My daughter is self sufficient and capable but she is also 18, utterly embarrassed by her allergy and unlikely to do anything about this and it's a huge issue for anyone with a life threatening allergy that needs epi pens. And she's my daughter so it matters to me.

OP posts:
IkaBaar · 04/03/2023 09:51

This is an awful idea. Exercise can make an anaphylactic reaction worse and time is critical. Walking to the first aid room is the last thing you would want someone to do.

A more reasonable compromise would be the need to show the original packaging complete with pharmacy dispensing label, or show a repeat prescription slip or doctor’s letter. Travelling through airports they will sometimes compare the labels on liquid medications or Epi pens to your passport.

My dds are still in primary school but their medications (inhalers and Epi pen) is in the classroom and if they leave to go to the gym or Astro the teacher takes the medication with them.

LandLockedLucy · 04/03/2023 09:51

Completely agree with you OP. Of course you want to help her. Not many teens would have the confidence or the tools to address this properly.

Targetted · 04/03/2023 09:51

*In my school we hold all medicines in a room including epipens.

This is to keep everyone safe as we have students that can cause harm to themselves or others.*

You can't actually do much harm with an epipen (assuming it only has adrenaline and hasn't been spiked). Much better to use it unnecessarily than not use it.

Original poster
anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:51

PrincessScarlett · 04/03/2023 09:48

I'm impressed the club has a medical room and a paramedic. They never did in my day.

Was your daughter ok with them taking her EpiPen? Not that it makes the situation acceptable but if she was ok with the situation I'm not sure what else can be done. There is a lot of drugs and spiking incidents in clubs so from a security point of view I can see why they took the EpiPen. However, as others have pointed out, in the event of anaphylaxis then time is absolutely vital in administering an EpiPen.

No she messaged me in a panic in the early hours but I was asleep.

OP posts:
Original poster
anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:52

PrincessScarlett · 04/03/2023 09:48

I'm impressed the club has a medical room and a paramedic. They never did in my day.

Was your daughter ok with them taking her EpiPen? Not that it makes the situation acceptable but if she was ok with the situation I'm not sure what else can be done. There is a lot of drugs and spiking incidents in clubs so from a security point of view I can see why they took the EpiPen. However, as others have pointed out, in the event of anaphylaxis then time is absolutely vital in administering an EpiPen.

They all have private paramedics these days - or the big ones do.

OP posts:
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 04/03/2023 09:52

Maybe it would be easier if public facilities just had a clear blanket policy that they are for able-bodied people only and 'those' disabled folk are not welcome.

Just as disgraceful and discriminatory, but at least they'd be being honest and open about their lack of interest in people's human rights.

gogohmm · 04/03/2023 09:52

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

So how do you prove the person with the epipen looking device isn't going to spike someone? Balancing needs and risks is very difficult, I know a young person who was drugged in a club, they matter too. Balance is key, and I'm hoping they have good medical advice

Targetted · 04/03/2023 09:53

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 04/03/2023 09:47

They might have got it wrong, but the policy is designed to keep people safe. Talk to them about it of course, but setting out to destroy them for it (as some have suggested with press and licencing) is ridiculous.

Who is baying for them to be 'destroyed'? When people and companies act outrageously and deliberately discriminate against protected groups, if they won't listen, they leave you with no other option but to take it higher and embarrass/force them into doing the right thing in future.

But no one's spoken to the club about it yet. If they refuse to change fair enough.

maddy68 · 04/03/2023 09:54

Looking from the other side. There has been a huge Increase in spiking by needle it's not unreasonable to have them placed somewhere she can then access easily but don't pose a risk to others

Original poster
anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:55

I'm not out to ruin the club I'm interested in whether I was being unreasonable in thinking it was unacceptable.

OP posts:
user1471538283 · 04/03/2023 09:55

My god what if she needed it? Her friends would have to find the room, find the pen and lose valuable time.

I would go nuclear. Complain to the club and the council and my MP. I agree for her to be front and centre but this must never happen again. The club endangered her life.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 04/03/2023 09:55

Your daughter needs to follow this up. If she’s old enough to go nightclubbing, she’s old enough to send an email of complaint without her mum.

Ah, the standard MN trope that, once a young person turns 18, the 'adult' button is pushed, which automatically means that they instantly have the same knowledge, experience and confidence to deal with things as any much more mature adult would.

GrinAndVomit · 04/03/2023 09:55

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:51

Urgh I wasn't asking for parenting advice. My daughter is self sufficient and capable but she is also 18, utterly embarrassed by her allergy and unlikely to do anything about this and it's a huge issue for anyone with a life threatening allergy that needs epi pens. And she's my daughter so it matters to me.

Show quote history

She’s an adult. You have to give her room to adult.

Yadayadayadayadayada · 04/03/2023 09:55

This one is going to be lifted by the Daily fail.

bonjello · 04/03/2023 09:56

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:51

Urgh I wasn't asking for parenting advice. My daughter is self sufficient and capable but she is also 18, utterly embarrassed by her allergy and unlikely to do anything about this and it's a huge issue for anyone with a life threatening allergy that needs epi pens. And she's my daughter so it matters to me.

Show quote history

Why is she embarrassed about it? I'd help her feel empowered by her condition and maybe help draft an email for her if she really can't do it herself