Janette wrote:

<If not, I will refer her to the appropriate bank.  She says she has
gallons
in her freezer!>

I feel I am between a rock and a hard place. A close relative, very dear
to me, recently revealed that he had developed ulcerative colitis.

During the discussion, I interjected that I had heard that there had been
sufferers who had been helped by consuming 4-8 ounces of human breast
milk during an attack. At the time, my remark must have gone right over
his head, because it was several days later that he called me back to see
if he had heard right.

Now, after he has "digested" this information, he is asking me if I have
found out any more about it, and if I have any idea how he could obtain
some for a trial.

What do I tell him? First of all, I would like to read at least one
reference to see if my memory is correct, or am I simply recalling what I
heard incorrectly? It would almost be a blessing if I could tell him that
I remembered incorrectly.

I would presume that a milk bank would require a prescription, if in fact
an adult with this illness would be considered to have any kind of
priority.

I feel certain that to approach any lactating mother with whom I have
contact through my employer, or any organization of nursing mothers with
a request of this nature, even for a trial "dose" would be unethical.

I think this would be not only from the standpoint of putting pressure on
the mother and misusing my connection with the organization, but also
from the viewpoint of safety to the relative, since no screening would
have occurred. I feel sure he would be willing to take a chance on plain
trust, but banked milk would be a safer alternative, or milk treated as
done in banking.

My problem may well be that I am too close to the situation (he tells me
"It's no fun to have to wear a diaper for safety's sake") I don't know
what to say, or how to say it.

I realize this is at the "outer limits" of lactnet's purpose, but I can't
think of any group better prepared to advise me.

Jean
****************************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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