Teacher Accused of Administering Melatonin to Students with Disabilities in Catonsville

Concerns have arisen at Maiden Choice School in Catonsville, where staff noticed students with disabilities were unusually drowsy during school hours. This behavior persisted for six weeks, prompting suspicions of improper conduct, according to court documents.

Tiffany Council, the mother of a nonverbal autistic student at the school, has filed a lawsuit against Baltimore County Public Schools, the school board, her child's teacher, and the school's principal. She alleges that her son was administered melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone, without parental consent.

The lawsuit claims that teacher Xenia Murchison and her aides provided melatonin to students over a two-month period. Council's son, who attends the special education program, reportedly experienced significant cognitive and behavioral setbacks, along with physical symptoms such as bloody noses and clotting.

According to the lawsuit, a staff member confirmed that melatonin was used in the classroom and that Council's son was among those affected. Council alleges that Murchison had inquired multiple times whether she had tried giving her son melatonin at home, despite the treatment not being recommended by his doctor.

Before the allegations came to light, the school's principal, Kathryn Wess, and an unnamed assistant principal had already raised concerns about the entire class napping simultaneously. However, the lawsuit states that no action was taken to inform parents or investigate further until a staff member reported the use of melatonin.

Baltimore County Public Schools has not commented on the ongoing litigation but confirmed that Murchison is no longer employed by the district. The school system's legal representatives stated that only certified staff can administer medication and argued that the school board and principal should not be held liable for Murchison's alleged actions.

This incident is part of a troubling trend, as similar allegations involving teachers administering substances to students without consent have surfaced in other states, raising questions about the treatment of vulnerable populations in educational settings.

Reported by HarborBeat based on thebanner.com (source).