...First Do No Harm


...First Do No Harm is a 1997 American television film, directed by Jim Abrahams, about a boy whose severe epilepsy, unresponsive to medications with terrible side effects, is controlled by the ketogenic diet. Aspects of the story mirror Abrahams own experience with his son Charlie.

Robbie is started on phenobarbital, an old anticonvulsant drug with wellknown side effects including cognitive impairment and behavior problems. The latter cause the child to run berserk through the house, leading to injury. Lori urgently phones the physician to request a change of medication. It is changed to phenytoin Dilantin but the dose of phenobarbital must be tapered slowly, causing frustration. Later, the drug carbamazepine Tegretol is added.Meanwhile, the Reimullers discover that their health insurance is invalid and their treatment is transferred from private to county hospital. In an attempt to pay the medical bills, Dave takes on more dangerous truck loads and works long hours. Family tensions reach a head when the children realize the holiday is not going to happen and a foreclosure notice is posted on the house. ........

Source: Wikipedia


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