Book Review

PANDORA’S BOX The Horrors of Mental Illness

I picked up the book, “The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice” by Benjamin Gilmer thinking it was a simple true crime story that I could read in a few hours and then go on about my business. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was totally unprepared for the seismic shock this story delivers. I find I am still reeling from aftershocks.

Dr. Vince Gilmer murdered his father and had been sentenced to prison leaving the small N. Carolina medical practice needing a doctor. Dr. Benjamin Gilmer stepped in to fill the position. Despite the coincidence of having the same last name the two doctors are not related and had never met. Dr. Ben, naturally, was curious about his predecessor, the other Dr. Gilmer. And there was no doubt that Dr. Vince was guilty. But the more Dr. Ben learned about Dr. Vince through stories from the staff and the patients, a disturbing disconnect grew. How could a

man dedicated to healing, whose kindnesses and generosity were legend in the community be a killer? Was the real Dr. Vince a selfless, concerned and giving medical professional dedicated to helping people or a vicious murderer? Who exactly was this man? What had driven Dr. Vince to commit a heinous murder? While afraid of meeting a killer but compelled to understand this contradiction, Dr. Ben Gilmer decides to visit his predecessor. Like the story of Pandora’s box, where she, “ … took off the lid, and out swarmed all the troubles of the world, never to be recaptured.”1 Dr. Vince had no idea that visiting the prison to meet the other Dr. Gilmer that he, like Pandora, would unknowingly open a world of pain, illness, cruelty, legal nightmares, of medical mistakes, and excruciating heartbreak into his life. This story is an indictment of the legal and medical practices in this country. Indeed, it is a

veritable indictment against society and shatters the illusion of America’s stance on basic human rights.

But the Pandora legend also tell us that, “ …. Hope was left in the box, stuck under the lid.”2 As disheartening as this story is there is reason for hope because this is also a story about heroes. You will find yourself pulled into the vortex of violence and violation cheering Dr. Ben and others engaged in Quixotic battle on behalf of desperate, tortured people without power, money, knowledge or hope.

Once exposed to this treacherous, cruel world where basic humanity was largely absent, Dr. Ben can’t unsee what he has seen, unhear what he has heard, or unfeel what he has felt. After reading this book, neither will you.

Spoiler Alert: Have a box of Kleenex nearby. You’ll need it.

Dr. Benjamin Gilmer Dr.

Sherry Tuffin, Reviewer

I wish I could tell you that the story of Dr. Vince Gilmer has a happy ending, but I can’t … not yet.

For an update go to:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/08/06/northam-gilmer-doctors-murder-pardon/

To participtate in a happy ending go to:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/rescue-vince-gilmer-a-free-man-still-in-prison