Here is an interesting case pitting an individual's rights versus the rights of a large group. A mother in Indiana is taking a high school to court under the American Disabilities Act because her son is allergic to perfume. She wants the school and all its faculty and students to be banned from wearing anything that could trigger anaphylaxis in her kid. To say this is pushing the envelope is putting it mildly. I actually remember interviewing for a residency position after medical school at one program that demanded no cologne or perfume be worn as it may irritate a secretary in the one of the buildings. This was 17 years ago and I thought it was weird then. Forget the point that allergists don't believe that sprayed scents can cause anaphylactic shock. The bigger question is when does the right of one individual outweigh that of a whole institution. I mean, are you going to suspend kids for wearing Axe spray one day? Will there be a smell patrol put on duty? This really is where the ADA gets abused. Seems to me somebody needs to be home schooled.
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