Epilepsy and Society

Summary: Epilepsy and the epileptic do not exist; epilepsies and people with epilepsy do. Together with many other groups of people, they make up society, and the attitudes of all these people determine to a great degree the quality of life (QOL) of persons with epilepsy. The various attitudes of different target groups in society, those of the general public, of governments, of physicians, and those of people with epilepsy themselves differ. There is room for improvement, although much has been achieved both in the approach to epilepsy and in societal attitudes and actions. However, even in this day and age, epilepsy and society are two inseparable factors. Living with epilepsy in any society should mean living a full life, with no more than absolutely necessary restrictions, with everyone else and like everyone else. The attitude of society can cause more pain than the seizures, but society can also prevent such pain.