For the Media:
Restrictions Eased on Air Travel by People with Epilepsy;
Airlines Urged to Adopt New Aerospace Medical Association Guidelines

Washington, DC, July 3, 2003 -- The Epilepsy Foundation has notified people with epilepsy that Medical Guidelines for Airline Travel recently revised by the Aerospace Medical Association now provide appropriate guidance for air travel by people with the disorder. The guidelines for the first time explicitly acknowledge that, “In general, most patients with epilepsy can fly safely.”

Previous guidelines recommended that no travel at all be allowed if someone had frequent or uncontrollable seizures. According to James Grisolia, MD, chief of neurology, Scripps-Mercy Hospital, San Diego, “this recommendation is too often used to deny passage or seriously delay the travel of air passengers with epilepsy, whether or not they have active seizures.” Grisolia is chair of the Epilepsy Foundation’s professional advisory board advocacy committee and represented the organization in affecting the policy change.

The new guideline makes it clear that individuals, with or without active seizures, have the Aerospace Medical Association’s sanction for air travel. It reads:

In general, most patients with epilepsy can fly safely. However, patients with uncontrolled, frequent seizures should be cautioned about air travel including the attendant risk of limited medical care capability inflight. Individuals with seizures sufficiently frequent to cause immediate concern should consider traveling with a companion ….

“Because airlines in the past showed a good faith effort to obtain medical advice,” said Eric R. Hargis, the Foundation’s president and CEO, “there was little recourse for passengers. We urge all airlines to adopt the Association’s revised recommendation and allow air travelers with epilepsy to enjoy their right to travel free of discrimination.”

The goals of the Epilepsy Foundation are to ensure that people with seizure disorders are able to participate in all life experiences; and to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy and services.

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