the news about the upcoming Chicago Hope and its possible anti breastfeeding
tone is all over the net.
I think HB's  points are well made and should be considered. We should try not
to focus on the episode itself but focus on getting the VNR to be run with the
program. And any other network that will use it for that matter, moms can use
all the correct info they can get!
JMHO
Marie Davis, RN IBCLC


>------message starts here--------------
>
>To all concerned about the upcoming Chicago Hope episode regarding a
>breastfed baby dying of dehydration:
>
>This info will be new to some of you - those already familiar with the
>scenario please bear with me. This message contains heaps and gobs of info I
>have gleaned over the last few days regarding the show's airing and who in
the
>professional and lay communities are doing what about the potential
>misinformation we surmise will be presented via the drama's script.
>
>Firstly I must urge you all NOT to get bent out of shape about this -
>regardless of your experiences on either side of this issue.  Yes, breastfed
>babies have died of dehydration. But of course this tragedy is often
>iatrogenic and definitely preventable through effective prenatal education
and
>appropriate, informed follow-up by the medical community.  PLEASE DO NOT
>boycott the show.  This may be the perfect opportunity to get the correct,
>thorough info circulating on a very large scale, as you will understand as
you
>read on in this missive.
>
>I spoke today with Marsha Walker, RN ICBLC She is international president of
>ILCA and an affiliate of the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy.
>She is hot on the trail of this event and provided me with some very valuable
>info.
>The episode in question is scheduled for October 21st.
>MEDELA has forked over big $$$ to produce (in collaboration with ILCA) a 90
>second video, hopefully headlined by Marianne Neifert, to be distributed to
>every local CBS affiliate in the country with the urging to air it repeatedly
>BEFORE and AFTER the Oct 21st CH episode.  The script is not yet defined;
they
>are awaiting perusal of the actual Chicago Hope script before finalizing the
>video script. The video will likely make the points that breastfeeding is
>best, and that dehydration is preventable through education and follow-up,
and
>will inform the public as to where help is available.
>HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
>Contact your local CBS affiliate's health or medical reporter. Let them know
>you are a concerned local citizen and tell them that the informative video
>will be coming to their station, probably the week before Oct 21 (it is being
>filmed next week).  Urge them to air it regularly before and after the CH
>episode
>*** If you are someone to whom people can turn for appropriate professional
>breastfeeding assistance and information (an LC, an accredited LLL Leader,
>etc), please also let the local stations know you are available in their area
>for professional information and support.  If you are permitted to OFFICIALLY
>represent a breastfeeding assistance organization, offer to be interviewed on
>the local news. FOCUS on how to get help, NOT on the misleadings of the CH
>script.
>You may or may not know that Chicago Hope regularly provides well-produced
(by
>affiliates of the health care industry who will remain nameless today),
canned
>video on their weekly subject to local stations, pointing up the "salient
>issues" dramatized on their programs.  Whether or not this info is accurate
or
>further dramatizes a tragic situation is overshadowed by the fact that this
is
>primarily a publicity stunt.
>This is a great opportunity to educate the public on the benefits of
>breastfeeding and how and where to get qualified breastfeeding assistance and
>support.  YOUR WELL-CONSIDERED, PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY CAN HELP PROVIDE
>THE CORRECT INFO. PLEASE DO NOT harange the producers of the show or stage a
>boycott - this could easily backfire, making the breastfeeding community
>appear to be fanatical and unapproachable!!!!  Hardly the result we'd all
>really like.
>Thanks again for all your interest and comments over the last few days.  I
>will continue to provide you with any updated info I receive.
>With REAL hope,
>H  B
>------message ends here--------------