Lawsuit Alleges Baltimore Teacher Gave Melatonin To Learning‑Disabled Students Without Parental Consent

Maiden Choice School in Baltimore, which serves children ages 3 to 21 with significant cognitive disabilities, is at the center of a lawsuit alleging that students were given melatonin without parental consent.

The suit, filed by parent Tiffany Council, claims her 12‑year‑old nonverbal autistic son was part of a class routinely administered melatonin for at least two months. According to the complaint and reporting by Law & Crime, staff repeatedly found the entire class asleep at the same time, prompting internal concerns that later led a staff member to report that melatonin had been given to students.

Allegations And Reported Effects

The complaint describes a range of serious medical and behavioral problems allegedly suffered by Council’s son, including "severe blood loss through bloody noses, blood in his mouth, and frequent blood clotting requiring medical attention," along with decreased motor functioning, emotional instability, and newly developed insomnia. No public toxicology reports have been released, and melatonin is the only substance specifically named in the filing.

What Melatonin Is — And What It Isn’t

Melatonin is a hormone often used as a short‑term aid for sleep issues. Medical sources such as the Mayo Clinic describe it as generally safe for short‑term use, though it can cause daytime drowsiness, headache, dizziness and nausea, and—more rarely—mood changes, confusion or irritability.

Important: Melatonin can interact with other medications. The Mayo Clinic warns that it may reduce the effectiveness of certain anti‑seizure and immunosuppressant drugs and could increase bleeding risk when combined with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications.

While nosebleeds are not commonly reported as a direct effect of melatonin, the complaint does not disclose whether the child or other students were taking medications that might interact with melatonin and raise bleeding risk. That uncertainty is central to the family’s claim that parents were denied the opportunity to assess safety for individual children.

School Response And Legal Positions

The Baltimore school system has declined public comment while the lawsuit is pending. In court documents, school attorneys say that dispensing medications or supplements is not a teacher’s role and that only school nurses or properly trained staff are authorized to medicate students. They contend that, if a teacher administered melatonin, the school and principal may not be liable for actions taken independently by an employee.

Council’s lawyers counter that administrators did not act decisively after initial concerns surfaced and failed to notify parents, which they say allowed the alleged dosing to continue. The complaint names teacher Xenia Murchison as the person alleged to have given melatonin; the school has said Murchison is no longer employed there, though communications about her status to the family were reportedly unclear.

What’s Known — And What Isn’t

Key facts remain unresolved: there are no public toxicology reports, the lawsuit’s claims have not been proven in court, and the extent of any medication interactions for affected students is unknown. The case highlights broader issues around parental consent, medication policies in schools, and the need for clear notification and training when a child’s health or safety may be at risk.

Disclosure: These are allegations from a legal complaint and reporting; they have not been adjudicated. Further investigation and potential medical testing would be needed to establish causation.