Not much surprises me in the Epilepsy world, but this is a story I had to watch and then watch again…and again…and again. The story itself is something I’ve been following for a while.

A neurologist in Detroit is accused of misdiagnosing hundreds of children…telling them they had Epilepsy. It turns out, they don’t. He prescribed medication for virtually all of them, brutal and terrifying anti-seizure medications. Many of them suffered horrific side effects and their lives were seriously altered. The state of Michigan is even investigating the doctor…saying he may have mis-read EEGs and other tests, accusing him of negligence and incompetence.

So, is it true? Did he misdiagnose to cash in with the pharmaceutical companies? That’s another part of the story. Channel 4 talks to a pharmaceutical rep who says she gave the doctor ‘the royal treatment’ so he would prescribe the anti-seizure drug she represented. The case is still wide open. The doctor is living and practicing in Saudi Arabia now, and the more than 200 kids are now seeing other doctors and their families have filed suit against the doctor and Oakwood Hospital. If anything, the story teaches us that a second opinion is in order if your symptoms don’t match the diagnosis. Scary…but true.

You can watch the ‘raw’ interview (un-edited) with reporter, Karen Drew, by clicking here (fyi, it’s 35 minutes long, so be prepared!):