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Epilepsy Patient
Prescription Drug
Safety
WHEREAS,
Epilepsy is a health
condition that
affects over
2,700,000 people in
the United States,
and around 80,000
people in Puerto
Rico, one in every
ten Americans will
experience a seizure
during his or her
lifetime, and three
percent will
eventually develop
Epilepsy. Epilepsy
can begin at any age,
most commonly in
children and the
elderly; and
WHEREAS,
Epilepsy is a
chronic neurological
disorder
characterized by
recurring seizures.
A seizure is a
sudden, abnormal
burst of electrical
energy in the brain;
and
WHEREAS, the
United States
Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention
recognizes Epilepsy
as a chronic disease
and has formulated a
public health agenda
to target key
challenges facing
people with Epilepsy;
and
WHEREAS,
Epilepsy is unlike
other medical
conditions because
of the seriousness
of its episodic
symptoms.
Breakthrough
seizures after a
long remission can
have significant
psychosocial and
physical
consequences such as
restrictions placed
on driving
privileges or limits
on employment
opportunities.
Epilepsy remains a
barrier to leading a
normal life by
affecting education,
employment,
marriage,
childbearing, and
personal
fulfillment; and
WHEREAS
Epilepsy results in
an estimated annual
cost of $15.5B in
medical expenses and
lost/reduced
earnings and
productivity; and
WHEREAS, even
one seizure could
result in the loss
of a driver’s
license, or
restrictions placed
on a license, such
as daytime driving
and driving only in
specified distances,
resulting in
potential lost
income and other
productivity-related
losses; and
WHEREAS the
American Academy of
Neurology and the
Epilepsy Foundation
oppose therapeutic
or generic
substitution of
anti-epileptic
medications without
prior approval of
the patient (or
representative) and
his or her treating
physician; and
WHEREAS
individuals living
with Epilepsy that
receive an
alternative drug to
the one prescribed
by their treating
physician, without
consent of the
physician and
patient, may produce
life threatening
toxicity, incur
additional health
and public safety
risks and increased
medical
expenditures,
including
unnecessary medical
visits and
hospitalizations;
and
WHEREAS the
National Hispanic
Caucus of State
Legislators hereby
recognizes that
individuals with
Epilepsy should be
allowed an
additional
protection by
requiring informed
consent before the
interchange or
substitution of
prescribed
medication (be that
therapeutic or
generic); and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED by the
National Hispanic
Caucus of State
Legislators (NHCSL)
Executive Committee
& Business Board of
Advisors assembled
in Washington, D.C.
on April 21, 2007,
that the NHCSL,
encourages each of
the States to enact
the most appropriate
steps to include
awareness and
education of
Epilepsy and the
importance of proper
medication
management in
controlling
seizures.
BE IT FINALLY
RESOLVED that NHCSL
adopt the position
that a Pharmacist
may not interchange
an Anti-Epileptic
Drug (AED) or a
formulation of an
AED, brand or
generic, for the
treatment of
Epilepsy without
prior notification
to and the signed
(written or
electronic
signature) informed
consent from the
prescribing
physician and
patient, or the
patient’s parent,
legal guardian or
spouse.
This resolution was
adopted on April 21,
2007, at the
National Hispanic
Caucus of State
Legislators
Executive Committee
& BBA Annual Meeting
held in Washington,
DC.
Assemblyman Felix W.
Ortiz, NY
NHCSL President |
