PG-13

...First Do No Harm

She went looking for help... and found a miracle

1997 • 90 min • Drama · TV Movie

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Synopsis

When Lori Reimuller learns that her young son Robbie has epilepsy, she first trusts the judgment of the hospital staff in how best to bring it under control. As Robbie's health slides radically downhill, however, she becomes frustrated and desperate, and so does her own research into the existing literature on treatments. When she decides to try an alternative treatment called the Ketogenic Diet, devised long ago by a doctor from Johns Hopkins, she is met with narrow-minded resistance from Robbie's doctor, who is prepared to take legal action to prevent Lori from removing him from the hospital.

Our family guide

Best from age 12

Movie Knight Score

40 reviews

69 Audience · 40 · 100%

When a young boy's epilepsy worsens despite conventional treatment, his mother battles the medical establishment to try an alternative diet. This intense drama explores a mother's fierce dedication to her child's health.

Violence & peril: 2/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 0/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Medical crisis involving a child
Intense emotional conflict
Confrontations with authority figures

What it models well

Parental advocacy
Medical research
Perseverance in the face of adversity

Talk about it after

Navigating medical decisions for children
Patient and doctor communication
Alternative treatments and scientific evidence
The challenges of chronic illness

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for ...First Do No Harm. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.