PRINTER'S NO. 1455
No. 192 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY WAUGH, C. WILLIAMS, PUNT, STOUT, FERLO, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, PILEGGI, RAFFERTY, D. WHITE, ERICKSON, LAVALLE, O'PAKE, STACK, WASHINGTON, KASUNIC, PIPPY, COSTA, FOLMER, EARLL, BRUBAKER, WONDERLING, KITCHEN, WOZNIAK, BAKER, DINNIMAN, BROWNE AND ARMSTRONG, OCTOBER 15, 2007
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, OCTOBER 15, 2007
A RESOLUTION 1 Designating the month of November 2007 as "Hydrocephalus 2 Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, Hydrocephalus is a serious neurological condition, 4 characterized by the abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in 5 the ventricles of the brain; and 6 WHEREAS, There is no known cure for hydrocephalus, which 7 affects an estimated one million Americans; and 8 WHEREAS, Out of every 1,000 babies, one to two are born with 9 hydrocephalus; and 10 WHEREAS, More than 375,000 older Americans have 11 hydrocephalus, which often goes undetected or misdiagnosed as 12 dementia, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease; and 13 WHEREAS, With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people 14 with hydrocephalus are able to live full and productive lives; 15 and 16 WHEREAS, The standard treatment for hydrocephalus was
1 developed in 1952 and carries multiple risks, including shunt 2 failure, infection and over drainage; and 3 WHEREAS, There are fewer than ten centers in the United 4 States specializing in the treatment of adults with normal 5 pressure hydrocephalus; and 6 WHEREAS, Each year, the people of the United States spend in 7 excess of $1 billion to treat hydrocephalus; and 8 WHEREAS, A September 2005 conference sponsored by seven 9 institutes of the National Institutes of Health, and entitled, 10 "Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear Directions," resulted in 11 efforts to initiate new, collaborative research and treatment 12 efforts; and 13 WHEREAS, The Hydrocephalus Association is one of the nation's 14 oldest and largest patient and research advocacy and support 15 networks for individuals suffering from hydrocephalus; and 16 WHEREAS, Further research into the epidemiology, 17 pathophysiology, disease burden and improved treatment of 18 hydrocephalus should be conducted or supported; and 19 WHEREAS, Public awareness and professional education 20 regarding hydrocephalus should increase through partnerships 21 between the Federal Government and patient advocacy 22 organizations, such as the Hydrocephalus Association; therefore 23 be it 24 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the Federal Government to 25 collect comprehensive statistics and data regarding the 26 seriousness of hydrocephalus and its impact on American 27 families; and be it further 28 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of November 29 2007 as "Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania so that 30 Pennsylvanians can become more familiar with hydrocephalus and 20070S0192R1455 - 2 -
1 the individuals dedicated to finding its cure. I13L82JS/20070S0192R1455 - 3 -