Description: When I talk to other doctors about epilepsy, I try to offer a few bits of my own experience in diagnosing the condition and caring for patients. I find that my own shortcomings are a good source of "pearls," and examining them reminds me not to fall back on bad habits. Examining past mistakes is a good habit, one that doctors in general do not practice often enough, at least publicly. We seldom discuss our mistakes. They are denied, repressed, or whispered about in corners. We rarely publish accounts of our spectacular misdiagnoses or therapeutic failures. Published articles on new drugs or surgical procedures highlight success and safety. It is a struggle to find a single article that focuses on failures. That is a pity, because mistakes and failures are highly instructive.