[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 279 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 279

Raising awareness of the risk of internal bleeding for patients taking 
                         anti-coagulant drugs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 25, 2011

Mr. Chandler submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Raising awareness of the risk of internal bleeding for patients taking 
                         anti-coagulant drugs.

Whereas, on January 12, 2010, Shannon Elizabeth Mudd, of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, 
        was taking anticoagulant drugs for deep vein thrombosis when she fell 
        and hit her head;
Whereas a lack of awareness about internal bleeding risks associated with 
        anticoagulant medications resulted in Shannon not receiving appropriate 
        emergency medical care at the time of her injury, which led to her 
        slipping into a coma, and her eventual untimely passing weeks before her 
        18th birthday;
Whereas, had there been better awareness of the risks associated with internal 
        bleeding, Shannon might have received more comprehensive treatment after 
        her fall, thereby preventing the coma and her premature death;
Whereas anticoagulant medications, also known as blood thinners, successfully 
        treat a number of serious medical conditions like deep vein thrombosis, 
        chest pain, and post-surgical blood clots, which could result in very 
        serious medical complications;
Whereas there is a severe risk of bleeding associated with minor injuries for 
        patients who receive anticoagulant medications;
Whereas the characteristics that make anticoagulant medications effective in 
        treating serious conditions are the same characteristics that make them 
        dangerous when patients are not adequately aware of their risks;
Whereas many leading patient safety organizations, such as the Institute for 
        Safe Medication Practices, the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, the 
        Joint Commission, and the United States Pharmacopeia recognize 
        anticoagulant drugs as high risk medications for the purposes of warning 
        patients about risk of death associated with their use; and
Whereas many patients are well aware of the risk of external bleeding associated 
        with anticoagulants, yet there remains a critical need to inform 
        patients and increase public awareness of the risk of death associated 
        with internal bleeding and brain hemorrhaging: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the benefit of anticoagulants for serious 
        health conditions;
            (2) acknowledges the dangers posed to patients from 
        anticoagulant medications and the risk of internal and external 
        bleeding;
            (3) seeks to raise public awareness of the risk of death 
        associated with these medications; and
            (4) encourages pharmaceutical manufacturers and health care 
        providers to properly communicate the risk of death associated 
        with coagulant drugs with their patients, in order to prevent 
        future tragedies.
                                 <all>