Dr. Benjamin Gilmer began his medical practice in a rural  clinic in the mountains, just outside Asheville, North Carolina. Coincidentally, the clinic's previous doctor was also Dr. Gilmer, first name Vince and no relation to Benjamin. Vince was in prison, sentenced to life for the brutal murder of his father.  

Although he'd initially been unconcerned about sharing a name with the man he'd replaced, Benjamin's feelings shifted over time. The more he heard about Dr. Vince, the more mystified he became. Why did the easy-going country doctor kill his father and then show up at the clinic for the next few days, seeing patients as usual? And his patients had been devoted to him. By all accounts, he was a kind and giving person, a little quirky at times, but never cruel. 

What was the truth then? Had Vince been hiding violent tendencies for years? Was he a psychopath? A sociopath? How might such a disturbed individual feel about the new Dr. Gilmer? Benjamin found himself jumping at shadows, irrationally fearful that Vince might somehow return to seek revenge on the man who'd taken over his practice. At that point Benjamin decided the best way to settle his nerves was to visit Vince in prison. 

That first tentative visit was the beginning of an unusual friendship between the two Dr. Gilmers. Benjamin came away from it little more insight into the murder. What he did recognize was that the man in the prison jumpsuit was seriously ill, shuffling his feet, struggling to speak. He appeared decades older even though the two Dr. Gilmers were just a few years apart in age. His brain, Vince said, wasn't working, probably due to coming off SSRI antidepressants. But that had been years earlier. Benjamin thought it unlikely that Vince's current symptoms could be explained solely by that. So began his journey to find out what had caused the other Dr. Gilmer's symptoms and to seek help for him. 

This story had been featured several years ago on the podcast "This American Life," and I happened to have caught the remarkable episode, though I'd forgotten some of the details. If you want some spoilers, you can listen to journalist Sarah Koenig's hour-long collaboration with Dr. Benjamin. Even if you do, be sure to read the book for the latest updates on the story of the two doctors. Benjamin Gilmer is an excellent writer, but also uniquely suited to take on this cause. Raised by parents and step-parents in the helping professions, he was unable to turn away from a prisoner who needed medical attention and someone who simply cared. 

The Other Dr. Gilmer is a true crime/medical mystery but also a critical look at the failures of prison and healthcare systems in the US. The struggle to get a definitive diagnosis of Vince's condition and then to get him even minimal treatment raises questions about states' responsibilities to incarcerated people. 

The Other Dr. Gilmer was published March 1, 2022 by Ballantine Books, and is available for check out at Moon Lake Community Library.