Epilepsy and the Law!!!!

[haird18]

I've seen some of the wildest stories about law enforcement and first responders actions toward people with epilepsy. And I have been one of those victims. I know there is information on a program sponsored by EFA "Take Another Look" talks about how law enforcement agencies and local paramedics misunderstand when someone who has epilepsy are not treated with dignity with seizures. Ler's hope that our first responders will continue to to be more sensisitive about us having seizures. Just in the last ten years alone epilepsy has doubled. Since we are already fighting stigmas and stereotypes whe shouldn't have to worry what the law enforcement do we expect them to help us as we do paramedics! What do you think?
David

[speber]

...so far when getting my license renewed (legal after six months seizure free in Texas) and during a ticket stop (okay I lead-footed)----the law enforcement personnel were very cooperative when the subject of epilepsy came up.

I was actually ready for the worst somehow both times...even though I had nothing to fear.

Again, I could be the exception AND these incidents were not involving public seizing!

Speber

[morgan381]

So far, I've not had any run ins with the law One of my brothers-in-law is a TX state trooper, and another is a local city officer (who had childhood E)...they've not had any personal experiences with people with E, but neither of them would give anyone problems as long as they were not posing a threat to the safety of others.

Laws on driving vary from state to state/country to country.* I lived in Colorado for a while, and they didn't have any restrictions on driving.* In fact, my first seizure occurred there when I was 20. Since it was a cluster of complex partials, I didn't know what it was (other than frustrating), and I did drive. Thank God I didn't hurt anyone!!! Hovever, shortly after that , there was an incident in Denver where a man ran over and killed his wife while having a seizure, so the docs began to strongly recommend patients not drive for 3-6 months after a seizure.
For the most part, (in my experience) law enforcement just wants to prevent such a tragedy. As for paramedics, I've never had any problems.

[epileric]

The only bad interaction with police I had was years ago when I was a teenager with very long hair (I think that was partly why I was harassed). They searched me & found a few of my meds (never know when you might need them). I was hauled down to the station & held for a few hours. Then they insisted on taking one of each pill to analyze to make sure it wasn't illegal drugs of any sort.

I later found out that it was illegal for them to take it but other than that I haven't had any problems re. my seizures & police.

[hawke86]

I have found paramedics and law enforcement very helpful. We need more of them out there.

[Birdbomb]

I have had no problems with the police even when I was wearing my "Coping With Epilpepsy" shirt when my car was totaled last November. Got some strange looks but not one comment.

It's the EMS I have problems with. They are CLUELESS about seizures here in Vegas. They think everyone is on drugs and wacked out. It's not like there is much they can do, but their ignorance and arrogance is appaling. Same atitude with individuals with diabeties (my friend David is very brittle so we see a LOT of 911 calls)

[hawke86]

Sorry to hear you have problems with EMS, Birdbomb.

[Cint]

So far, I haven't had any problems with law enforcement or paramedics. I have Diabetes AND Epilepsy, so I do wear my medic alert and hope they do take a look at it if the time ever comes.

Cindy

[hawke86]

Cindy,
We have something in common. I have diabetes and epilepsy also. I also have to deal with partial blindness. I also wear my medic alert bracelet. The bracelet has saved my life several times.

[homemom360]

i've had a few run in with the emt's and law inforcement thanks to this condition. three in my home and one @ work, that was the one involving the cops. they have always been helpful and in the case of my first incounter, very pacient and calming as i came around. the funniest run i had was the last, when i had a seizure while pregnant and hit my head on the tub. the ambulance came and put me on my way to the er. on the way, the emt asked me, if my husband hit me. i was taken off gaurd by this question, and asked him why he asked such a strange question. he pointed to the 'bruises' on my left shoulder and upper arm, that were explosed by the tank top i had on. i could not help but laugh, and he of corse asked me what was so funny. i then replied that they were not bruises they were hickies, that my hornie husband gave me during a movie a few nights before. we both laughted and he told me that was the last time he would jump to a conclusion.

[skillefer]

Hmmm....Well, hubby is in law enforcement, so he tends to look at everyone suspiciously. What can I say, we live in a town with a lot of meth. But the cops and the EMT's here have always been nice to me. The only time they were bossy with me, was when I took out a gas main with the car. But I was lucky, we paid for the damages, and nobody was seriously hurt. The cops ordered me to go see my doc, which I did. That's when I found out that I was hypoglycemic. My blood sugar was at 40.

[skillefer]

Oh! But I do know that another friend of mine with E was either ticketed or restricted from riding her bike when she was a teen. (Can't remember which. ) Seems she had a seizure while riding her bike. Now, personally, I'd think having a seizure while riding a bike would be a heck of a lot safer than while driving, but hey...I'm just a civilian.

[Belinda5000]

I've had run ins with cops and plenty of paramedics.

Last couple of times I was in the hospital I'd have complex partial,tonic clonic, GTC.

I'd remember my seizures everything that happened in them.
They'd always ask me if I wa at the hospital with someone like I shouldn't go out alone.
I hate being ask did u take ur meds. Im in the system they'd ask all my allergies.

When I had a complex partial when I was out by myself and ended up disoriented someone called the cops. The older of the two said when my mother takes her meds she doesn't have seizure's.
He and his partner got a 5 minute lecture on epilepsy.
Belinda

[brain]

I can't vote, because it's 50/50.

I've had my share of bad and good both from
Medical Personnel & Law Enforcement if you
ask me to put it altogether throughout the
decades.

Now if you were to ask me if it has improved;
I would have to remark - somewhat. It all depends
on whom is there that's the issue.

[BuckeyeFan]

However, since I used to be an EMT, I knew most people who ever responded to help me.

I personally would not be as worried about tonic-clonics as I would be about partials. tonic clonic seizures are fairly obvious as to what they are, but a partial or worse a series of partials could be mistaken for a number of unlawful things. Even postictal periods could be viewed as uncooperative if the original seizure was not witnessed.

I also think the situation can be worse if there is only one responder. Once there is more than one, they don't feel as threatened by your actions.

Diabetics face the same issue, sadly.

[joey]

most people get very scared when they see me have a seizure. i have grandmal siezures so i can understand. and honestly i really dont know what people are doing cuz im tottaly out.

[alivenwell]

I've seen very cooperative or very patient paramedics. One day in a fast food restaurant (I know I should NOT have been in there!), another couple called paramedics when they witnessed a seizure. Without knowing what it was, I did thank them for responding so quickly. It was probably scary for them to not know if it was a stroke, heart attack, or some other ailment.

This question inspires me to get one of those medical bracelets.

[TexasTravel]

I have had both way but mostly bad. I have had EMT's tell cops that they suspected that I was drunk or even flat out tell them that they felt I was on some sort of illegal narcotic. (They were basically telling the cop what he wanted to hear.) So, they took me to the ER and tested me for all kinds of illegal drugs before my wife told them that if they were going to keep drilling holes in my arm that they needed to check my Lamictal and Trileptal levels, which they finally did. The cop followed the ambulance to the hospital and stayed, ready to haul me off to some police station if they were illegal.

[Belinda5000]

I come out of my seizures really fast and I've usually busted my head open.
I'm able tell them I've had a seizure and whose my neurologist and what hospital take me to get sewn up at.
The cops get there before the paramedics or EMTs and they all know me in the town I usually go down in where I live.


Belinda

[Wally]

My wife worked in the ER when I had my first seizure. So the Paramedics knew her when they came to the house. Then they took me to the ER she worked in. You get treated really well when your wife works there! Not that I wanna hang out there this weekend though...............