Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) would provide medical providers access to information about any history of addiction in patients when making decisions about treatment.
The bill, Jessie’s Law, is named after a woman named Jessie Grubb who had recovered from an opioid addiction. Grubb relapsed after a doctor unwittingly discharged her after surgery with a prescription for oxycodone, and she later died.
“Jessie’s story is truly heartbreaking,” Capito said. “West Virginians have lost too many loved ones to the terrible scourge of addiction. That’s why I am joining again with my Senate colleagues to reintroduce Jessie’s Law in the hopes that Jessie’s story can help save lives and make a difference as we continue fighting the drug epidemic.”
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who introduced Jessie’s Law with Capito, said he promised David Grubb that his daughter’s death would not be in vain.
“Now, a year later after her death, I am reintroducing Jessie’s Law to make good on that promise and to do all that I can to prevent parents around our country from experiencing the grief that Jessie’s parents feel,” Manchin said.
“It’s devastating knowing that her death was 100 percent preventable and she should still be with us today. We must ensure physicians and other medical professionals have full knowledge of a patient’s previous opioid addiction when determining appropriate medical care,” he said.