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Meryl Streep, Fred Ward, Tom Butler, Allison Janney, Seth Adkins

When the youngest son of a rural Midwestern family is diagnosed with epilepsy just as their insurance is set to run out, his mother dedicates her life to the illness and all of its potential treatment... read more read more...s. Eventually she comes across the ketogenic diet, a method of limiting carbohydrates and protein in a way that some believe decreases the chance of seizures. The diet is controversial, however, and their local doctor strongly advises against employing it. Despite this advice, the child is taken to a Baltimore facility in order to proceed with the experimental treatment. First Do No Harm is based on a true story, and stars Meryl Streep, Fred Ward, Seth Adkins, Tom Butler, and Allison Janney. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

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70% liked it

1,180 ratings

PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Jim Abrahams

Release Date: February 16, 1997

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DVD Release Date: September 3, 2002

Stats: 76 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (76)

  • jjnxn
    March 20, 2012
    jjnxn
    Meryl is impassioned in this story dealing with an important and little known issue.
  • 76Majikat
    November 25, 2008
    76Majikat
    A subject close to my heart which made for emotional viewing. A Mother?s love and determination to do absolutely anything it takes to make her son well.

    Meryl Streep as always gives her role everything she has and the rest of the main cast played good roles too.

    I can?t se... read moree any Mother?s out there not liking or relating their feelings to this film, a great watch.
  • Kyochanishi
    April 15, 2010
    Kyochanishi
    It's amazing the things that happen in life. How things can seem so good and turn in such a short time. I thought the feelings portrayed in this movie where great. It showed how everyone in a family would feel in this situation and the determination of parents to protect their ch... read moreildren. It's true to that a lot of doctors will just hand you one thing after another until something works, the sad part is that that is all they can do. They may be studied but no amount of studying will make you know everything. It is also true that diet can be under rated. Everything we use is made from nature, why not try it in it's simple form? And why not try everything you can? It is a difficult decision, one that can result in death no matter what road you take so I do feel the mom was a little harsh on the options she was given, but at the same time, if your child was suffering and on the edge of death, I'm sure you would bite every head off too. I know I would. Great movie, very educational, and inspiring.
  • clooneyfan
    May 16, 2008
    clooneyfan
    The acting wasn't all that great. I also find it hard to believe that this kid had side-effects to every single solitary anti-convulsant drug out there. I have a feeling they were over-dramatized for this movie.

    However, the movie is a must see for medical personnel and famil... read moreies of epileptics! It is based on a true story of how the ketogenic diet (which is a very strict high fat/low carb diet) can help control seizures. The ending was very uplifting.
  • iloveoz
    October 25, 2007
    iloveoz
    Excellent fact based movie. Meryl Streep was supberb.
    It's a remider that everything really does happen for a reason. Always go with your gut.

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Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 26, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Presents a blistering attack on the rigidity and insensitivity of the medical establishment. Full Review

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