Elizabeth Otte Epilepsy Case Study

Introduction Authorities are investigating what seems to be an indication of murder after an infant child was discovered stuffed in the microwave early morning by relatives. Elizabeth Renee Otte and Joseph Anthony Martinez Sr., the mother and father of infant baby Joseph Lewis Martinez Jr. lived with the father’s elder parents in a small, one brick rancher in Lanexa, Virginia. Elizabeth Otte, who apparently suffers from severe epileptic seizures and blackouts up to 50 minutes, claims that she remembers nothing about the incident besides feeding the child. Is it possible that she could have become so disorientated after a blackout that it cause her to mistaken Joseph Lewis Martinez for a bottle of milk that needed warming, placing him in the

Many people with epilepsy usually have more than one type of seizure and may have other symptoms of neurological problems as well. The cause of epilepsy varies by age of the person, but the majority of the time the cause is unknown. Common causes of seizures by age in Elizabeth Otte’s case would be congenital conditions (Down’s syndrome; Angelman's syndrome; tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis), genetics, head trauma, and progressive brain disease which is rare (Schechter & Shafer, Ltd., 2013, p.1). The diagnosis of epilepsy is based on medical history of the patients including family history of seizures. They ask several of questions to figure of what type of seizures the patients could possibly be suffering from. Doctors then preform test such as EEG, take blood, and study images of your brain. Epilepsy is treated by a neurologist specialist that may or may not subscribe medication depending on the severity and frequency of the seizures. Also treatment can be a change in the patients’ diet or

It can be the result of cerebral palsy or strokes but often there is no known cause. Epilepsy is primarily treated with medications which are successful in reducing the frequency and severity of seizures in more than half of epilepsy patients. However, even a mild seizure can be very dangerous and depending on when and where you have it might even be fatal. Though the connection between the infant’s death is highly speculative, it’s a slight possibility that Elizabeth Renee Otte did mistake her baby for a bottle. According to Timberg (1999) "As we look at it, there was unlawful killing," said C. Linwood Gregory, commonwealth's attorney in New Kent County. "It's for the court to decide what type of crime was committed and whether it was committed under some type of disability." With Otte’s known disability, a lot of factors come into motion. If in fact she was that ill, she should have never been alone with and without the infant as well as begin consistently monitored by a specialist or guardian to ensure she does not cause harm to herself. Such commitments can be ordered in cases in which a person is determined to be a threat to her or others, or cannot care for herself. What would have happened if she was to have a seizure while holding the baby? Can you see why the authorities are not quite sure as to how someone could be so confused about a baby and a bottle of milk that needed warming but still is able to