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Epilogue: Death and Love in Epilepsy

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Epilepsy and Intellectual Disabilities

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Abstract

This chapter, as the epilogue to Epilepsy and Intellectual Disabilities (2nd edition), reflects on two important themes which are directly relevant to people with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities: death and love. The association between epilepsy and premature deaths in persons with intellectual disabilities is more than ever the focus of intense interest. In the UK the sad death of Connor Sparrowhawk in 2013 highlighted that this is a national issue and can have medicolegal implications. The theme of love is discussed by three interconnected areas which can significantly improve the quality of life of a person with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities: universal access to specialized epilepsy services, seizure freedom, and an absence of epilepsy-related social restriction. It is hoped that the themes of death and love will have greatly advanced by the 3rd edition.

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References

  1. Independent review into issues that may have contributed to the preventable death of Connor Sparrowhawk. VERITA. 2015. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/indpndnt-rev-connor-sparrowhawk.pdf.

  2. Epilepsy Self Monitor. Available at: https://www.sudep.org/epilepsy-self-monitor.

  3. Kerr M, Thomson R, Linehan C, Glynn M, Mula M, Gil-Nagel A, Zuberi S. Listening for a change: medical and social needs of people with epilepsy and intellectual disability. A joint report of the international league against epilepsy Task Force on Intellectual Disability and the International Bureau for epilepsy. 2014.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Mike Kerr MBChB MSc MPhil MRCGP FRCPsych

  2. Neuro-developmental Psychiatry, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK

    V. P. Prasher MBChB MMedSc MRCPsych MD PhD

Authors
  1. Mike Kerr MBChB MSc MPhil MRCGP FRCPsych
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  2. V. P. Prasher MBChB MMedSc MRCPsych MD PhD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NHS Trust, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Vee P. Prasher

  2. Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom

    Mike Kerr

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing

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Kerr, M., Prasher, V.P. (2016). Epilogue: Death and Love in Epilepsy. In: Prasher, V., Kerr, M. (eds) Epilepsy and Intellectual Disabilities. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39144-1_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39144-1_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39142-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39144-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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