IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 279 
Raising awareness of the risk of internal bleeding for patients taking anti- 
coagulant drugs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 25, 2011 
Mr. CHANDLER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Raising awareness of the risk of internal bleeding for patients 
taking anti-coagulant drugs. 
Whereas, on January 12, 2010, Shannon Elizabeth Mudd, of 
Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, was taking anticoagulant drugs 
for deep vein thrombosis when she fell and hit her head; 
Whereas a lack of awareness about internal bleeding risks as-
sociated with anticoagulant medications resulted in Shan-
non not receiving appropriate emergency medical care at 
the time of her injury, which led to her slipping into a 
coma, and her eventual untimely passing weeks before 
her 18th birthday; 
Whereas, had there been better awareness of the risks associ-
ated with internal bleeding, Shannon might have received 
more comprehensive treatment after her fall, thereby pre-
venting the coma and her premature death; 
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•HRES 279 IH 
Whereas anticoagulant medications, also known as blood 
thinners, successfully treat a number of serious medical 
conditions like deep vein thrombosis, chest pain, and 
post-surgical blood clots, which could result in very seri-
ous medical complications; 
Whereas there is a severe risk of bleeding associated with 
minor injuries for patients who receive anticoagulant 
medications; 
Whereas the characteristics that make anticoagulant medica-
tions effective in treating serious conditions are the same 
characteristics that make them dangerous when patients 
are not adequately aware of their risks; 
Whereas many leading patient safety organizations, such as 
the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, the Institute 
of Healthcare Improvement, the Joint Commission, and 
the United States Pharmacopeia recognize anticoagulant 
drugs as high risk medications for the purposes of warn-
ing patients about risk of death associated with their use; 
and 
Whereas many patients are well aware of the risk of external 
bleeding associated with anticoagulants, yet there re-
mains a critical need to inform patients and increase 
public awareness of the risk of death associated with in-
ternal bleeding and brain hemorrhaging: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the benefit of anticoagulants for 
serious health conditions; 
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•HRES 279 IH 
(2) acknowledges the dangers posed to patients 
from anticoagulant medications and the risk of in-
ternal and external bleeding; 
(3) seeks to raise public awareness of the risk 
of death associated with these medications; and 
(4) encourages pharmaceutical manufacturers 
and health care providers to properly communicate 
the risk of death associated with coagulant drugs 
with their patients, in order to prevent future trage-
dies. 
Æ 
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