Hi everyone!  I just thought I would share my letter to CBS and intelihealth:

    As a professional lactation consultant, I am very concerned about the
content of the upcoming Oct. 21st, Chicago Hope episode. It is unfortunate
that you plan to depict breastfeeding in such a negative light.  IT IS NOT THE
BREASTFEEDING, BUT THE LACK OF BREASTFEEDING MANAGEMENT THAT POSES A RISK TO
OUR INFANTS. Breastmilk is quite superior to any artificial substitute.  Many
studies, too numerous to mention in this letter, indicate the superior health
benefits to infants and their mothers.  Breastfed babies always fair better
than their bottle fed counterparts for any respiratory or gastrointestinal
illnesses. Breastfeeding mothers have a reduced risk for ovarian cancer,
breast cancer, and osteoporosis.  It's hard to understand why you are doing a
show about the risks of breastfeeding when it is obvious that there are many
more risks associated with formula feeding.  PERHAPS FORMULA COMPANIES SPONSOR
TV PROGRAMMING AND BREASTMILK IS NOT A PRODUCT?

I am hoping that CHICAGO HOPE will provide accurate information about where
breastfeeding mothers could get the assistance that they need.  It is
important to get help early on from an International Board Certified Lactation
Consultant (IBCLC), either through their local hospital or privately.  Too
many hospitals in this country still do NOT have an IBCLC on staff.  The
mothers that I work with receive tons of misinformation from all sorts of
sources.  Many just make phone calls without getting personal assistance. This
is often how a serious FTT (failure to Thrive) case can arise.  It is
important to note that these cases are relatively nonexistent despite the lack
of information and assistance.
     A story just like the one you are airing appeared on the front page of
the Wall Street Journal in July, 1995.  It created quite a fury about the
risks of breastfeeding.  I sincerely hope that CHICAGO HOPE does not repeat
this insanity.  I have been a loyal viewer since it's first season, but I may
end up boycotting a medically oriented show that poorly informs such a large
audience about the "supposed" risk of breastfeeding.  What's in store for the
future--perhaps a show about the risks of a healthy diet compared to the rich
taste of Ensure three times a day?

Sincerely, Debbie Albert, Ph.D., IBCLC