Below Deck Mediterranean: Maritime Law and prescription drugs on board a vessel

Below Deck Mediterranean had fans in a tizzy this week about the treatment of Hannah Ferrier over a legally prescribed drug, Valium.

After this week’s Below Deck Mediterranean episode and Hannah Ferrier requesting a Valium from Malia White, we decided to look into Maritime Law and how this situation might have been different had it not been on the water.  Valium is a controlled substance that would have been prescribed to Hannah by a doctor back in the United States.

Malia’s Instagram post received a lot of angry comments from fans who were upset about her treatment of Hannah.  She basically echoed some of the sentiments below, that drugs onboard a vessel need to be declared ahead of time and need to be administered by someone else – not the crew member taking them.

When getting on a boat, part of Captain Sandy Yawn’s duties would have been learning of any prescription drugs on board for her to be able to declare them should they need to.  The World Health Organization has issued a document that states what drugs and at what quantities need to be on board.  The Quantification Addendum: International Medical Guide for Ships has all of this information listed.

João Franco from previous seasons Tweeted out the exact regulation, MGN 296.  It is interesting that being impaired from heavy drinking is somehow okay, but needed prescribed medication is not.

There would also be a safe on board the vessel that one of the crew members has the responsibility of keeping updated.  This will contain a medical and narcotics register that will account for the medicines onboard and how/when they are administered.  This mostly comes down to an issue with an impaired crew member and a potential issue onboard the vessel, i.e. someone not being prepared or able to help in an emergency situation.

But fans were mostly upset about the treatment of Hannah from the rest of the crew.  If Hannah was prescribed valium as a medication, she does not need to be harassed over her condition.  Malia labeling it a “freak out” only heightened the stigma associated with mental health issues.  Malia calling Hannah out to ultimately get her fired was a shady move, one that viewers did not seem pleased with.

After using the “it has come to my attention you have drugs on board” clip all season as a preview, it just further seems like Sandy and Malia were bullying Hannah.  Malia didn’t even go to Sandy immediately, she only told her about the drugs when Hannah refused to change rooms once she moved her boyfriend in.  Shady, shady, shady.

Below Deck Mediterranean is on Bravo Monday nights at 9 PM ET!