Asleep at the Crime Scene: How Unrecognized and Untreated Parasomnias and Sleep Disorders Can Ruin A Life & End a Life
Dr. Jerald Simmons, MD

In a widely-cited, sleep-related homicide case involving an identical twin, the defense argued that the accused committed the act during a parasomnia episode and was unaware of his actions at the time of the crime. Jerald H. Simmons, a board-certified sleep specialist, testified that the defendant had a documented sleep disorder, consistent with disorders of arousal such as sleepwalking. During such episodes, an individual may appear awake and capable of complex behavior while lacking conscious awareness, intent, or memory of the actions performed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Not all sleep problems are airway. Learn to understand parasomnias
• Understand how to recognize the risk of a presence of a complex sleep problem
• Learn how and when to make the proper and necessary referral

Dr. Jerald Simmons, MD, is the Founding-Director of The Sleep Education Consortium (SEC) and Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates, PA (CSMA). He is Triple Board-Certified in Neurology, Epilepsy and Sleep Medicine. He conducts research studies relating to sleep disorders and develops methods to enhance the assessment and treatment of patients with sleep disturbances. His most recent research involves the relationship between Clenching / Sleep Bruxism / TMJ Disorder with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, as well as the relationship between ADHD and disturbances of sleep. Dr. Simmons created the SEC as an outreach to educate the healthcare community. Dr. Simmons currently heads a task force that is working to establish screening techniques to identify sleep related breathing disturbances in children.

1 CE credit available to AAPMD members