Book Review: The King and Dr. Nick: What Really Happened to Elvis and Me

Book Review for The King and Dr. Nick: What Really Happened to Elvis and Me
By George Nichopoulos with Rose Clayton Phillips

This book is an account from ‘Dr. Nick’ (George Nichopoulos), the personal physician of the late Elvis Presley, on what really killed The King of Rock and Roll. It also leads us through Dr. Nick’s personal turmoil and professional fallout that has crept over the last four decades as a result of Elvis’ early death.

The King of Rock and Roll died in 1977 setting off a heated media debate about what killed him and who was responsible for taking this icon from his millions of fans. Did Elvis die of a drug overdose like the press would have you believe? Is Elvis hiding out at a 7-Eleven, surprising unsuspecting shoppers?

Before reading this memoir, I knew little about the amusing stories surrounding The King and didn’t have a particular opinion, or even my own answers to either of those questions. Having read The King and Dr. Nick, I can say with conviction–no, and no. I won’t give too much of the story away but to mention Elvis definitely had health issues, health issues that Dr. Nick valiantly tried to lessen during his decade of diligent medical care as Elvis’ personal physician. On the second charge–Elvis is not the type of personality to hide himself away–although I could see him getting a kick out of surprising people in some out-of-the-way convenience store.

This book brewed several emotions within me–first, disappointment that I will never be able to experience Elvis performing live and second, disbelief and anger at how cruel the media can be, particularly when one person is looking to further their career and get the ultimate scoop–to the point of ignoring and misconstruing facts at the risk and expense of other people’s livelihood. (I always felt there was something sleazy and untrustworthy about Geraldo Rivera, and now I know why.) False stories in the media brought great pain and loss to Dr. Nick. This is a man who cared for difficult patients when no one else would, and as a thanks for his hard work, was falsely charged several times for not taking proper care of Elvis as well as other patients. In the end, decades after Elvis’ death, Dr. Nick lost his fight, losing his career despite the evidence proving he did all he could, plus some (and all within medical guidelines).

Kudos to Dr. Nick for his strength and rest in peace Elvis–you truly were The King.

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Full disclosure: This title was given to me as part of ThomasNelson’s Book Sneeze program in exchange for an honest review.
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