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...First Do No Harm

...First Do No Harm

Drama · TV Movie · 1997

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.

Movie details

...First Do No Harm

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

1997 Drama · TV Movie 1h 30m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over ...First Do No Harm?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jim Abrahams

Written by

Ann Beckett

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

Lori Reimuller

Fred Ward

Fred Ward

Dave Reimuller

Allison Janney

Allison Janney

Dr. Melanie Abbasac

Seth Adkins

Seth Adkins

Robbie Reimuller

Margo Martindale

Margo Martindale

Marjean

Tom Butler

Tom Butler

Dr. Jim Peterson

Leo Burmester

Leo Burmester

Bob Purdue

Court is in session

Put ...First Do No Harm on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.