Epilepsy-Related Mortality Awareness

The bill requires the department of public health and environment (department) to do the following in relation to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and other epilepsy-related mortalities:

• Gather and provide to families and health-care practitioners information on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and other epilepsy-related mortalities;
• Ensure that all death investigation professionals are aware of the latest epilepsy-related death investigation recommendations from a nationally recognized and reputable organization of medical examiners and a nationally recognized and reputable organization of medicolegal death investigators;
• Conduct a statewide public health campaign to expand public awareness of and educate the public about epilepsy and its associated mortality risks; and
• Report all epilepsy-related deaths to a sudden unexpected death in epilepsy registry.

The bill also requires that investigations regarding the cause and manner of a death suspected to be or determined to be caused by epilepsy or a seizure must include a determination of whether the death was a direct result of a seizure or epilepsy. If there is a determination that the cause and manner of an individual's death was consistent with the definition of known or suspected sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, a death investigation professional shall ensure that the individual's death certificate identifies epilepsy as the contributing cause or suspected cause of death.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)