Subject:      I
Sent:        1/30/00 5:10 PM
To:

Hi lactnet,
 I have subscribed to Lactnet before but have been no mail for a long
time. So will introduce myself. I have been a LLL leader for several
years and am a clinical laboratory scientist by trade. I live in a small
town in Idaho at the base of the Grand Teton mountains. We are small but
our BF coalition was thrilled to have both Kathy Dettwyler and Jack
Newman here last summer!

 I know there has been some discussion about gifts to New Years Babies.
Our hospital kindly accepted a gift from R--- L-------- of a years worth
of free formula for the last baby of 1999 and the first baby of 2000.

 I fired off a letter to the editor. I said I was puzzled to discover
formula among the gifts offered. Surely hospital officials are aware of
AAP policy statement that ......
Hospital officials are undoubtedly aware of research demonstrating that
artificially fed infants have significantly more respiratory and gastro
intestinal infections requiring hospitalization than do breastfed infants.

 In my final paragraph I did something I normally don't do. I
deliberately mixed causes and attacked the hospital! I know they have had
a public relations problem and this formula issue has been brought up so
many times. So this is what I said.

 "Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center has suffered a poor public
relations image for a long time. The hospital has demonstrated that they
do not have the community's best interest in mind in terms of infant
health . Why should we believe that they have our best interest in mind
on other health care issues?"

 Well I hit a nerve!!! I don't know if the timing was fortunate or
unfortunate but two days after my letter  there was a full front page
spread "Hospitals ailing image" It was all about blue cross, the areas
largest insurer not wanting to sign a contract with the hospital. It has
been going on for weeks and is a whole story of its own. But there have
been several letters to the editor. Some are defending the hospital,
some are critical, some are supportive of BF, some say my babies did just
fine on formula, nurses are writing in that we are too supportive of BF,
the formula was a gift of good will, it is not a community health issue
,it is moms choice, we don't want to make moms feel guilty........

  Anyway, I am wondering if I should respond or just leave it out on the
table. Any one like to join in? I am looking for support. Please tell me
I am not narrow minded, onesided, heavy handed.

Thanks
Mary Graden
Idaho

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