Epileptics ''need to be told'' about risk of death during sleep
26/08/2011
The death of two epileptic teenagers in their beds has prompted criticism of doctors, who failed to properly inform patients of the risk of dying during sleep.
Erin Casey, of Fife and Christina Ilia, of Forfor may still have been alive today had they been made aware of sudden unexpected deaths in people with epilepsy (Sudep), claims Dundee Sheriff Alastair Duff.
Both girls died in bed having suffered with seizures. Mr Duff explained that the "vast majority" of patients with epilepsy should be advised about the risk of Sudep.
He added: "Advice about the risk of Sudep should only be withheld if there is assessed to be, in the case of a particular patient, a risk of serious harm to the patient in providing the information, or the patient has learning difficulties."
Both sets of parents only discovered what the term Sudep meant after the deaths of their daughters.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
