D’Amico Passes Legislation to Advance Research into Sudden Epileptic Deaths

In an effort to aid in the understanding and diagnosis of sudden, unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), State Rep. John D’Amico (D-Chicago) passed legislation requiring all autopsies to determine whether a death was a direct result of a seizure or epilepsy. “When families lose a loved one, they want to know how or why it happened,” said D’Amico. “This measure will help provide understanding to distraught families searching for answers, and further the medical community’s ongoing pursuit to understand the causes SUDEP.” Senate Bill 1226 requires medical examiners to not only determine if a death was a result of a seizure or epilepsy, but also provides – in instances where evidence of SUDEP exists – that they add such information to the death certificate. SUDEP is considered a mysterious and rare condition that accounts for 17% of all deaths for people with epilepsy. In those instances, the death certificate would be forwarded to the North American SUDEP Registry in New York to help medical professionals learn more about epilepsy, seizures, and SUDEP. “SUDEP is the most common cause of deaths for people with epilepsy, taking the lives of over 20,000 people every year,” said Senator Dan Kotowski, a board member of the Danny Did Foundation. “Not only will these records help doctors understand SUDEP, it can give families the ability to prevent this from happening to their loved ones.” D’Amico partnered with the Danny Did Foundation, an organization committed to finding the cause of SUDEP. The local community group was founded in 2010 after a family in northwest Chicago suddenly lost their 4-year-old son following a seizure. “This legislation will serve as a national model to further SUDEP research,” D’Amico added. “By collecting more data, we can advance the medical community’s understanding of this mystery. I would like to thank the Danny Did Foundation for their hard work and I look forward to partnering with them in the future.” For more information, contact Rep. D’Amico’s constituent service office at (773) 736-0218.