Video: Girl suspended for sharing medicine

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OREGON CITY, Ore. - An Oregon City fourth grader missed her last day of school Friday because she shared a lip cream with two classmates.

Madison McFadden attends Redland elementary. She said she didn’t know she was breaking school rules.

Madison says it all began the day before school got out when students were cleaning out their desks.

She found a medicated, over the counter, lip cream called “abreva” in her desk. It’s a cold sore medication and can numb up an area.

A classmate asked her what it was and wanted Madison to share. She did and the classmate put some on her lips then passed it to a friend. Madison says a short time later the two classmates didn’t feel well and told the teacher.

When the teacher investigated, Madison and the classmates ended up in the principal’s office. All three were suspended and missed the last day of class.

“I was really sad,” she said. “I was crying my eyes out when it happened."

District Superintendent Roger Rada defends the move.

"We're there to protect the kids,” said Rada.

“I just cant believe that parents would want their students or other students sharing medications, whether they're prescription or over the counter, with other students," said Rada.

Madison’s parents understand the rationale behind the policy. They just feel the school and district went way overboard in punishing the girls.

“I think there’s a big lack of common sense,” said Tricia Dorney, Madison’s mother.

If anything, she thinks Madison’s punishment should have had an educational element, perhaps a report on the need for the policy.

“For the school to suspend her on the last day of school, which happens to be the funnest day of school, I thought was taking it out of control,” said Dorney.