Two years after Michael Brown died from anaphylactic shock on the Vineyard, his wife Megan Shai Brown testified at the State House in favor of increasing access to lifesaving allergy medication across Massachusetts.

Ms. Shai Brown, an Edgartown resident, was one of several people who went to Beacon Hill on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to pass a bill that would make it easier to get epinephrine into public places, such as restaurants, sports venues and camps. Under the bill, trained personnel would be allowed to administer an EpiPen even if the person having a reaction was not known to have an allergy or prescription.

Before the joint committee on public health, Ms. Shai Brown recounted her husband’s death. She believed tragedy could have been avoided if an epinephrine auto-injector that halts an allergic reaction had been more readily available. 

“I wish with everything in me that I didn’t have a reason to be here today but I do,” she said.

Julian Cyr, Megan Shai Brown and Thomas Moakley at the State House.

Courtesy Thomas Moakley

Julian Cyr, Megan Shai Brown and Thomas Moakley at the State House.

Courtesy Thomas Moakley

Mr. Brown was playing golf in a first responder charity tournament on the Vineyard in 2023 when he was stung by a wasp. He had no history of an allergy, but still went into anaphylactic shock. 

“In the 15 years that we were together, he had been stung probably three to four times with nothing more than a little red bump,” Ms. Shai Brown told the committee.

An Act Relative to Increasing Access to Epinephrine, which Ms. Shai Brown calls the Michael Brown Law, would allow organizations where allergens might be present to train employees on how to use auto-injectors. These organizations would also be allowed to stock auto-injectors to use in case of an emergency. 

The bill was introduced by state. Rep. Thomas Moakley and state Sen. Julian Cyr, the Island’s representatives in the State House. 

“Every second counts during an anaphylactic reaction,” Mr. Moakley said in a statement. “This legislation is a commonsense, life-saving measure that will prevent unnecessary tragedies and ensure help is available when and where it’s needed most.”

Brian Sullivan, a friend of Mr. Brown’s who was there when he died, also testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Sullivan began his testimony by telling the room to imagine someone they love unable to breathe because they are going into anaphylactic shock. That was Mr. Sullivan’s experience with Mr. Brown during the golf tournament.

While trying to figure out what was going on, another member of the golfing group realized that Mr. Brown had been stung. Mr. Sullivan’s wife told Mr. Sullivan that Mr. Brown needed an EpiPen. Mr. Sullivan said that at first he was relieved because he was surrounded by first responders, but neither the first responders nor the golf course had the medication.

“The fact is when you are holding your friend’s hand and every second he can’t breathe, and literally have something that’s life-saving that could be there, I realized we as a society failed Mike that day,” he said.

Jan Hanson, the president of the New England chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, also went to the State House to speak in support of the bill. She told the committee that the bill would help people who have a food allergy and added that anaphylaxis can be caused by a number of things, including food, insect venom and latex.

“Allergic reactions can occur quickly, as you have heard, within minutes,” she said. “It is important to note that epinephrine is the only treatment to reverse the symptoms of anaphylaxis.”

Ms. Hanson also stressed many people do not know about their allergy before a reaction occurs, stating that 25 per cent of epinephrine administration in schools is for people who did not know they had an allergy.

“This could be lifesaving for someone having an anaphylactic reaction and either doesn’t have epinephrine with them or didn’t know they had an allergic condition,” she said.

Eric Brown, Mr. Brown’s brother, testified remotely. He told the committee about the impact his brother’s death had on the family. He also said that he had seen the success of epinephrine firsthand.

“Since losing Michael, our family has learned just how common it is for someone to suffer a first-time allergic reaction without warning,” he said. “As a parent of a three-year-old daughter with a known egg allergy, I’ve lived through the terrifying experience of needing to use an epinephrine auto-injector. I can say without hesitation, it works.”

Before the bill, Ms. Shai Brown also worked to make epinephrine auto-injectors more available on the Island after her husband’s death. Police in both Edgartown and Oak Bluffs have been trained to administer the medication and carry it with them thanks in part to her advocacy work.

The joint committee on public health has three months to vote on whether to move the bill forward, if it should be further studied or if it should be sent to another committee. Joseph Perry, Mr. Moakley’s legislative aide, told the Gazette it was likely that the bill will move on to the healthcare financing committee.