Epilepsy Foundation Takes Author John Grisham To Task

American writer, John Grisham is one of the world’s best known, and most read, authors of modern legal drama. With 16 novels published to date, 11 of which have been made into films, and with another book due to hit the bookshelves in January 2009, John Grisham has, to date, sold over 235 million copies of his books worldwide.

As an ex-politician and retired attorney, his writing is well respected for its accuracy in detail, which comes from painstaking research. So it is of concern to see that his latest novel “The Appeal” contains inaccurate, not to mention dangerous, information on how to how to help someone having a seizure.

In response to the misinformation contained in “The Appeal”, Eric Hargis, President and CEO of Epilepsy Foundation of America wrote to John Grisham to voice concern.

“As you know, on pages 343-344 of the hardcover edition of “The Appeal”, Ron Fisk’s son Josh has a seizure when he’s in the hospital. Ron rushes to his side and grabs his shoulders to settle him; then the nurse comes in and shoves a tongue depressor into Josh’s mouth. Both of these are potentially harmful things to do to a person who is experiencing a seizure,” wrote Eric Hargis.

“As a bestselling novelist, someone who reaches millions of people — and, furthermore, has their respect and attention — you could really help the more than three million people in the United States (and more than 50 million people worldwide) who have epilepsy by promoting proper seizure first aid and dispelling rumors and urban legends about it,” the letter continued.

“It would be immensely helpful to all people with epilepsy if, when “The Appeal” is reprinted or printed in paperback, you would add an author’s note indicating proper first aid for a seizure so the millions of people who read your book have a clear and correct idea of what should — and should not — be done when a person has a seizure,” Epilepsy Foundation requested.

As a writer who once stated that “Everything I’m thinking about writing now is about politics or social issues wrapped around a novel,” let’s hope that the request of Epilepsy Foundation is met.