§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the guidance he issues to the deceased family after diagnosis of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome [146917]
§ Mr. DenhamSudden Adult Death Syndrome is not one single condition but a group of conditions that can result in the sudden and unexpected death of apparently healthy adults. Some deaths, particularly those in young adults, are believed to be due to possible cardiac abnormalities such as cardiomyopathy, a disorder of the heart muscle. There is evidence of a familial link in some of these deaths, and we fully recognise the importance of those thought to be at risk being referred for specialist assessment.
Our current policy is that the relatives of people with cardiomyopathy should receive regular cardiovascular examinations. We are also seeking the co-operation of coroners to enable all such sudden deaths to be investigated properly.