Even a Chief Justice Can Have Epilepsy!

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

In the News: July 31, 2007

“Chief Justice John Roberts walked briskly out of a hospital in Maine on Tuesday and resumed his vacation, returning to normalcy a day after he suffered his second seizure in 14 years.

Roberts had been traveling extensively prior to arriving in Maine for vacation, but whether or not jet lag or fatigue played a role in triggering his seizure isn’t clear.”

Because Roberts had a seizure in 1993 and then a second one (albeit 14 years later), his condition meets the diagnostic criteria for epilepsy of unknown origins. Interestingly enough, very few people knew about his first seizure in 1993. And if Supreme Justice Roberts had not had a seizure in such a public place, nobody would know about his second seizure. Or maybe anything about seizures at all.

Many people are misinformed and then terrified if they see someone having a seizure. “Many will equate it with a brush with death,” said Dr. Giuseppe Erba, professor of neurology at the University of Rochester. “Seizure is one of the most frightening experiences to look at.”

Dr. Gregory L. Barkley, a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy, said he did not expect the illness or the treatment to affect the Chief Justice’s ability to do his job.

And many neurologists hope that Roberts’ experience will provide an opportunity to dispel the widespread public fear surrounding seizures — and highlight the fact that seizures like the one Roberts experienced — are relatively harmless and often do not indicate any severe underlying health problems.

The fact is that there is a broad spectrum of people who have seizures. And the valuable lesson here is that people with epilepsy or seizure disorders are capable of maintaining activity in all walks of life. There are people who have seizure disorders who are physicians, attorneys, judges, you name it.

But, as Chief Justice Roberts proves, seizures don’t prevent you from living a full and important life and they’re nothing to be ashamed of. Exposing the public to a seizure is a very important. Because there’s still a lot of stigma against people who have epilepsy.

And Chief Justice Roberts showed, in his own way, that seizures are nobody’s fault…they’re not associated with some kind of mental illness…they’re just a medical disorder that can be treated.

So, although he did seriously consider stepping down from the nation’s highest court, he did not. Because he’s a survivor — one not to be defined by epilepsy.

Resources:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3432352&page=4

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/cassel/20070802.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/he...zure.html?_r=1

http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/2007...seizure?page=2

[Bernard]

A trip down memory lane...

Chief Justice Roberts

[Rae1889]

[B]Because he’s a survivor — one not to be defined by epilepsy.

very nicely put.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<obje...mbed></object>

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

I LOVE IT. Thanks Ray!

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

Well Bernard, I guess I'm just overly optimistic. Or else seeing things through rose tinted glasses???

[Bernard]

I think people can choose to see the positives or negatives in any situation. I also think it's important to be able to see both.