What author and neurologist Ian Bone wants people to understand about epilepsy
Many historical figures, including Napoleon, are said to have epilepsy
The early pioneers of scientific progress are described, along with the often fortuitous discovery of effective drug and surgical treatments. Social reform was slow and it was not until the early 20th century that a compassionate approach emerged, as evidenced by the removal of people with epilepsy from prisons and poor houses to rural settlements and hospitals. . Along with this were the beginnings of the charity movement.
I also discuss the representation of epilepsy in literature and painting, in cinema and television, in music and theater, in newspapers and on social networks, as well as the lives of these writers, painters, musicians and actors with epilepsy. I’m interested in how they dealt with their condition and its impact on their art. Many historically famous people, such as Napoleon Bonaparte, are said to have suffered from epilepsy. I reviewed the available medical history to confirm or refute their diagnosis. The absence of their voices does much to perpetuate the public belief that success and epilepsy cannot go together.
The book also discusses the social consequences of epilepsy. No other condition has been so heavily legislated with respect to employment, marriage, migration, travel and conduct. We examine each of them from a historical and global point of view. For centuries, epilepsy has been mistakenly associated with criminality and antisocial behavior. The evidence is reviewed.
Notorious court cases are described and the notions of criminal tendency, violent behavior and the so-called “epileptic personality” are discarded. We examine how educators, law enforcement, employers and caregivers view the condition and ask why. Public information strategies and the appropriate use of social media to reduce stigma are discussed along with their effectiveness.
My book ends with a personal account of living with epilepsy as a parent, taking the reader from childhood diagnosis to the pitfalls of adolescence and early adulthood.
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The goal of sacred lives is to improve public understanding and thereby improve the quality of life of people with epilepsy.
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