Worldwide, mortality associated with epilepsy is a matter of grave concern. The 
mortality rate in epileptic population is two to three times more than that of 
the general population. Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, better known as 
sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), is a mysterious and rare condition, 
in which typically young or middle-aged people with epilepsy die without a 
clearly defined cause. At times, this may raise a strong suspicion of foul play 
and raise several medico-legal issues. There may be several different underlying 
mechanisms but most research has focused on seizure-related cerebral and 
respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmia and autonomic dysfunction. In recent 
years, some significant risk factors have been recognized and strategies have 
been suggested that could be useful in prevention of SUDEP. Present 
communication provides some of the updates on new advances in prevention of 
SUDEP as well as highlights related medico-legal issues.