Montgomery, AL – A bill that would require pharmacists to notify epilepsy patients of changes in their medication has passed the House Health Committee. Supporters call it a victory for thousands of Alabamians with the disease.
The bill approved by the panel Wednesday is known as the Patient Safety Act and now goes to the House.
About 46,000 Alabamians have epilepsy, which causes recurring seizures that can be fatal. The condition is mainly controlled by medication and doctors say even slight changes to the medicine can cause patients to relapse.
Samford University pharmacy professor Dr. Timothy Welty said the bill is needed because some pharmacists change patients' medication without telling them or their doctor and that can be disastrous.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)