Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 09 December 2010
09 Dec 2010 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome
I, too, welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate, and I congratulate Jim Hume on obtaining it and on pursuing the issue.
SADS is a pretty horrendous thing for a family to go through. I will raise a slightly different issue, although Johann Lamont alluded to it: the bereavement that the families go through. Unexpected deaths in young adults are some of the harder bereavements that have to be gone through—they are difficult. Many of us will have had constituency cases in which a young adult has suddenly dropped dead. In my case, a constituent and neighbour suddenly dropped dead on a rugby field in America. Such deaths are absolutely devastating events and it takes a long time for families to recover, so they need adequate support. CRY certainly does some work to provide that.
We are told that about 12 young people die every week in the UK of an undiagnosed heart problem. Therefore, the question properly arises as to whether there should be universal screening. However, universal screening is undertaken only if certain rules are complied with and certain precepts are fulfilled. The general view is that, at present, a universal screening programme is not appropriate. That is not because of the reasons that Christine Grahame mentioned about a programme being mandatory, as the programme would always be voluntary, but because it might not fulfil all the precepts and principles. To those who are interested, I commend a recent debate on the issue in the British Medical Journal. It was one of the journal’s yes-no debates, in which one person argues for a proposal and another against.
SADS is a pretty horrendous thing for a family to go through. I will raise a slightly different issue, although Johann Lamont alluded to it: the bereavement that the families go through. Unexpected deaths in young adults are some of the harder bereavements that have to be gone through—they are difficult. Many of us will have had constituency cases in which a young adult has suddenly dropped dead. In my case, a constituent and neighbour suddenly dropped dead on a rugby field in America. Such deaths are absolutely devastating events and it takes a long time for families to recover, so they need adequate support. CRY certainly does some work to provide that.
We are told that about 12 young people die every week in the UK of an undiagnosed heart problem. Therefore, the question properly arises as to whether there should be universal screening. However, universal screening is undertaken only if certain rules are complied with and certain precepts are fulfilled. The general view is that, at present, a universal screening programme is not appropriate. That is not because of the reasons that Christine Grahame mentioned about a programme being mandatory, as the programme would always be voluntary, but because it might not fulfil all the precepts and principles. To those who are interested, I commend a recent debate on the issue in the British Medical Journal. It was one of the journal’s yes-no debates, in which one person argues for a proposal and another against.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman)
Lab
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S3M-7393, in the name of Jim Hume, on sudden arrhythmia death syndrome—SADS. The debate wi...
Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD)
LD
I thank members who have remained behind to participate in the debate. I also thank those who signed my motion in order to make the debate possible. Among th...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate Jim Hume on bringing the debate to the chamber; I know that he has had a difficult day, so I congratulate him even more for staying the course...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, congratulate Jim Hume on securing this important debate, and pass on my condolences. He is determined to continue to press the issue in difficult tim...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am pleased that Jim Hume has brought to members’ attention once again sudden arrhythmia death syndrome, and I congratulate him on securing the debate. I al...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate, and I congratulate Jim Hume on obtaining it and on pursuing the issue. SADS is a pretty horrend...
Christine Grahame
SNP
I understand the member’s point about the mandatory aspect, but I seek his advice. Is it not the case that such tests would be mandatory for young men who we...
Dr Simpson
Lab
Yes, certainly. Those of my age can remember a certain footballer—I have forgotten his name for the moment—who, on being transferred to Manchester United, wa...
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
I, too, thank Jim Hume for introducing this very important debate. I recognise his very direct and personal interest in this serious and complex issue.The su...