A Fighting Choice (13 Apr. 1986)
"Disneyland" A Fighting Choice (original title)

Bright teenager afflicted with epilepsy sues his parents for the right to have "split brain" surgery in order to cure his seizures.

Director:

Ferdinand Fairfax

Writer:

Craig Buck

Stars:

Beau Bridges, Karen Valentine, Patrick Dempsey

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Beau Bridges	...	Thad Taylor
Karen Valentine	...	Meg Taylor
Patrick Dempsey	...	Kellin Taylor
Frances Lee McCain	...	Virginia Hagan
Lawrence Pressman	...	Dr. Tobin
Danielle von Zerneck	...	Susie Fratelli
Allan Arbus	...	Dr. Andreas Hellman
Alice Hirson	...	Judge Rosenstiel
Parker Jacobs	...	Harvey Taylor
Allen Williams	...	Dan Goodman
Philip Linton	...	Eli Rhodes
Robin Thomas	...	Dr. Gardner
Charles Lanyer	...	Dr. Leonard Faraday
Nina Henderson	...	Janet
Jeanne Hepple	...	Martha

Storyline

Bright teenager afflicted with epilepsy sues his parents for the right to have "split brain" surgery in order to cure his seizures.

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Plot Keywords:

seizure | epilepsy | brain surgery | medical condition | son suing parents | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | Family | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1986 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Good movie about a teen with a debilitating seizure disorder who takes his parents to court to become emancipated so that he could have controversial brain surgery

Good movie. The courtroom scenes were a little overdone, but Dempsey did a good job convincing me that an intelligent minor is capable of making decisions about his own quality of life. (Brought to mind the same issues that Jodi Piccoult addressed in her recent book "My Sister's Keeper"). It's ironic that Patrick Dempsey played the affected teen, and the 10/4/06 episode of Grey's Anatomy featured Dempsey (as "Dr. McDreamy") performing the same operation on a man with a severe seizure disorder. Dempsey has come a long way since the unpopular, dorky character in "Can't Buy Me Love". Who knew that awkward, skinny teenager would turn out to be McDreamy?