Health Board given 28 days to clarify SUDEP risk plans
Neither Megan nor her family were properly informed of her risk of death.
A coroner has ruled that Megan Gardiner was not properly informed of her risk of death by the medical professionals responsible for her care.
Coroner Kerrie Burge concluded that neither Megan nor her family were properly informed of Megan’s risk of death, and therefore could not be properly protected from risk. The Coroner asked the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to clarify within 28 days how the individualised risk of SUDEP will be discussed in future, including a plan to reduce risk.
Megan, from Barry near Cardiff, was 17 weeks pregnant when she died in June 2022 of SUDEP – Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. She was just 25.
The inquest into her death took place at Pontypridd Coroners Court from Aril 20-24, with the coroner’s summary findings following on May 1.
The inquest followed a long and gruelling four-year fight for the family. SUDEP Action has supported them throughout this period, providing specialist support – and will continue to do so for as long as it is needed. It heard evidence from Megan’s family, a range of epilepsy experts and healthcare workers such as her GP, consultants and nurses from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board who were responsible for her care.
SUDEP risk was a key discussion point during the inquest. The coroner said she was not satisfied that Megan was informed that she was at high risk of SUDEP and that this should have been reinforced in discussions on the use of Sodium Valproate to control seizures.
SUDEP Action Caseworker Julia Stirling, who attended each day of the inquest, said: “We stood alongside Megan’s family at the inquest. Through their courage and determination to see this through, really important evidence has been aired about SUDEP risk communication, and how important it is for women to have choice and balanced conversations so they can make decisions about the most effective medications to control their seizures during their life with epilepsy, and during pregnancy.”
Megan’s mum Alison Woolcock said: “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of my beautiful, sensitive kind and funny daughter. Her passing has devastated our world, and I miss her constantly. If Megan had been cared for properly, she may still be here today. I feel like the medical professionals treated Megan’s care as an afterthought, and did not prioritise the risk to her life. As a family we need to know why this was and to stop other epilepsy sufferers meeting the same fate.”
The thoughts of everyone at SUDEP Action remain with Megan’s family.
