Lawmaker Had Seizure During House Floor Speech

Connecticut US Representative John Larson suffered a complex partial seizure mid-speech on the House floor Monday, attributed to a 15-year-old heart valve replacement. The 76-year-old Democrat, in his 13th term, disclosed he was prescribed medication to prevent future incidents and aims to resume his duties on Wednesday. The House attending physician referred Larson for evaluation after the seizure, diagnosing it with a series of tests. He attributed the event to a heart valve replacement due to a congenital variation in his aortic valve.

Larson's office initially suggested it was an adverse reaction to new medication. Complex partial seizures, lasting 30 seconds to two minutes, can manifest as staring or involuntary movements like chewing, which is what Larson appeared to be doing after he suddenly stopped speaking mid-speech, dropped his arm, and stared straight ahead.

John Larson said: "Fifteen years ago, I had a heart valve replacement due to a variation in the shape of my aortic valve that I was born with. Sometimes, people with this condition can later develop symptoms such as the momentary change in speech or movement that was apparent yesterday." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)