Medical Amnesty Policy

Wake Forest is committed to the safety and wellbeing of its students. The University encourages and expects students who are concerned about their own health or that of another student due to alcohol and/or drug use to seek medical assistance.  The University recognizes that the potential for a conduct action by the Office of the Dean of Students may deter students from seeking medical assistance, and this Medical Amnesty Policy is intended to eliminate that barrier.

This Medical Amnesty Policy applies to:

  1. Undergraduate students seeking medical assistance for themselves due to use of alcohol and/or other drugs,
  2. Undergraduate students seeking medical assistance for another person due to that person’s use of alcohol and/or other drugs, and
  3. Undergraduate student organizations seeking medical assistance for their members or guests due to the member(s)’ or guest(s)’s use of alcohol and/or other drugs.

Individual Amnesty: Students will be eligible for Medical Amnesty when it is determined that they sought medical assistance for themselves or others sought medical assistance for them in a proactive manner related to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs. The term “proactive manner” means that a student would seek out the assistance of law enforcement or medical personnel (examples include a Winston-Salem or University Police Officer or a member of the Wake Forest University Emergency Medical Services staff) or residence hall staff member (examples include a Graduate Hall Director or Resident Advisor) trained student staff (examples include an Event Resource Manager or Deacon Patrol member), or using a specific university resource (such as Deacon Health or calling 911).  A student who is seeking Medical Amnesty for themselves will be required to comply with recommendations of the Office of the Dean of Students in order to be granted the amnesty.  Recommendations may consist of, but not be limited to, the following:

If the student complies with and completes the recommendations, the student will not be charged with alcohol and/or drug violations under the Code of Conduct by the Dean of Students or his/her designee.  In addition, Medical Amnesty will not be granted to students needing medical assistance who refuse to cooperate with medical providers, law enforcement, or University personnel at the time medical assistance is being sought.  

Students who seek medical assistance for another person experiencing an alcohol or other drug-related emergency will also not be charged with alcohol and/or drug violations under the Code of Conduct by the Dean of Students or his/her designee. Such students may, however, be required to participate in an educational program as recommended the Dean of Students or his/her designee.  Failure to comply with the recommendation(s) may result in alcohol and/or drug violations under the Code of Conduct.

Organizational Amnesty: Student organizations will be eligible for Medical Amnesty when it is determined that they sought medical assistance for members and guests in a proactive manner related to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs. The term “proactive manner” means that the student organization would seek out the assistance of law enforcement or medical personnel (examples include a Winston-Salem or University Police Officer or a member of the Wake Forest University Emergency Medical Services staff) or residence hall staff member (examples include a Graduate Hall Director or Resident Advisor) trained student staff (examples include an Event Resource Manager or Deacon Patrol member), or using a specific university resource (such as Deacon Health or calling 911).  A student organization seeking Medical Amnesty will be required to comply with recommendations of the Office of the Dean of Students in order to be granted the amnesty.  Failure to seek medical assistance may result in disciplinary action against the student organization and/or its members.  The student organization seeking medical attention for another person will not receive charges related to alcohol and other drugs by the Dean of Students or his/her designee, provided the student organization and/or its members complete any educational recommendations assigned by the Office of the Dean of Students. The Office of The Dean of Students reserves the right to notify the Inter/national headquarters of recognized student organizations, even when amnesty is given.  Failure to comply with the recommendation(s) may result in alcohol and/or drug violations under the Code of Conduct.

Individual students or organizations that actively seek immediate medical assistance for another person may still receive Medical Amnesty regardless of the compliance of the individual for whom medical assistance was sought.

If a student and/or a student organization received Medical Amnesty for a prior incident or has prior alcohol misuse sanctions, the availability of amnesty is at the discretion of the Office of the Dean of Students. Additionally, Medical Amnesty applies only to alcohol and other drug violations under the Code of Conduct and does not eliminate the possibility that other charges may be issued against students and/or student organizations to address other prohibited conduct such as assault, property damage, or distribution of illegal or illicit substances.  

This policy applies only to those students or student organizations seeking medical assistance due to alcohol or other drug use and does not apply when the individual in need of medical assistance is found by University employees, including Resident Advisers.  

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Remember, if someone is potentially in danger it is critical that you don’t wait. DON’T WAIT, SAVE A LIFE, MAKE THE CALL.

Find more information on how to recognize and help someone with alcohol poisoning.