Category: (Book)
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Cory Friedman woke up one morning when he was five years old with
the uncontrollable urge to twitch his neck. From that day forward
his life became a hell of irrepressible tics and involuntary
utterances, and Cory embarked on an excruciating journey from
specialist to specialist to discover the cause of his disease. Soon
it became unclear what tics were symptoms of his disease and what
were side effects of the countless combinations of drugs. The only
certainty is that it kept getting worse. Simply put: Cory
Friedman's life was a living hell.
AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE is the true story of Cory and his family's
decades-long battle for survival in the face of extraordinary
difficulties and a maddening medical establishment. It is a
heart-rending story of struggle and triumph with a climax as
dramatic as any James Patterson thriller. (2008)
A must-read for parentsReviewed by Business Professor, 2010-02-16
This non-fiction book based on one family's horrible experience
with the medical establishment chronicles what can go so wrong, and
how this family found its way back to recovery.
Anyone who has struggled with a child with ADHD, learning
differences, or other issues (obsessive-compulsive behavior,
Tourette's) and/or has sought help from the medical establishment
will find this book to be compelling.
Against Medical AdviceReviewed by Suzanne J. Neria, 2010-02-05
This is the best book he has writen. Someone telling the story is
one thing but this is book is the person telling the story and you
get an under standing of what it's like.
I have a grandson with ticso now I can say I can understand what he
is going thru
Great bookReviewed by Samantha Dillard, 2010-02-02
This book is great I love James Patterson, This was different then Alex Cross books but it keep my attention the whole time. After I get done with his books I take them to work to share with co workers. the book also arrived in great shape from Amazon!
Suprisingly InterestingReviewed by Alicia M. Justus, 2010-01-22
I actually liked this book. It held my attention and was very interesting. Good read!
serious reservationsReviewed by Thoughtful Reader, 2009-11-21
The Chancellor of UMass Medical School recommended that all
employees and students read this book for a group conversation. I
missed the group conversation so I am not sure what he was hoping
that we would get out of it, but presumably many of the things
mentioned in the more positives reviews. Personally, I just don't
get it.
First, the father wrote the book in the child's voice. This sets up
a number of bizarre scenes where the father-as-child is praising
the father and mother for their angelic perfection. Give me a
break!
Second, Against Medical Advice seems to be another name for
doctor-shopping to find a different doctor who would prescribe ever
stronger drugs at terrifyingly high dosages for an adult, let alone
a child. There is almost no mention of behavioral interventions
until the end, after Cory takes extreme measures un-addict himself
from the medications.
This treatment of a child struck me as bordering on child abuse -
not something to be proud of. The father putting his words in the
child's mouth makes the book read like a child thanking his parents
for abusing him.
The book is interesting and a very quick read, but I would advise
readers to think carefully about its message.
