Theresa,
Here's the body of the letter I sent for Media Watch re. ER. A Neal Baer, MD
is the pediatrician who writes for ER and who responded to us awhile ago when
we sent a positive letter re an episode. Hope he's still around and will
respond now.
My point is that I agree that it should just be matter of fact and expected
that women BF-not for "heroes" only!
Barbara Latterner
We contacted "ER" in the past regarding both positive and negative portrayals
of breastfeeding in your programs and once in 1997 received a reply from you.
You stated then that "as a writer and pediatrician, I certainly support
whatever we can do to raise breastfeeding awareness." We are wondering what
has happened to this commitment when viewing recent episodes that present
inaccurate information and negative comments about breastfeeding. In
particular, last weeks show, aired on 4/13/00, depicted "Carol Hathaway"
expressing frustration with breastfeeding her twins and wondering if she was
a bad mother for wanting to wean; she had after all, breastfed them for six
months. "Dr. Greene's" response was in essence not to feel guilty and just
let it be a recognition of never being able to be the perfect parent.
One does not have to be the "perfect parent," a supermom, or that unusual in
order to breastfeed one's baby, or babies for that matter, beyond six months,
twelve months or twenty-four months! Yet this is the message that was
conveyed in this "ER" episode and what a shame it was. The media has such an
opportunity, especially a medical show like "ER," to influence millions of
viewers on important health issues and breastfeeding is a vital initial link
in the chain of healthy practices that affect us for a lifetime.
Your response would be appreciated and hopefully future episodes will include
accurate, helpful breastfeeding information. Should you need references for
breastfeeding, please feel free to contact us. We will pass this letter on
to the Texas Media Watch office, which maintains a national data base
concerning the media's portrayal of breastfeeding.
Sincerely,
Barbara Latterner, RN, IBCLC
Media Watch Coordinator
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