Sorry that I didn't change the subject line in my sample letter post. Here are excerpts from another letter re the actual case in New York. More stuff to use in letters if you wish. Please write this in your own words and from your own perspective. Be courteous and professional. Laurie 5-22-99 Salon Magazine: I read your article "Nursed to death" on your website today. This case seems very complex but apparently the jury found the mother negligent and largely responsible for the baby's death. snip Surely you realize that bottlefeeding babies die too, for various reasons. Mothers mix their formula improperly, or it is manufactured improperly, or the babies are not fed often enough. The instructions for bottle feeding properly are lengthy too. The number of feedings and the dirty diapers need to be monitored just as with breastfeeding. snip Parents need to know how to assess infant hydration and satiety by noting number of feeds, swallowing of milk, number of wet diapers and stools, and other indicators each day. This should be part of regular prenatal, inpatient, and discharge education provided to parents by all doctors and nurses caring for mothers and babies. Unfortunately, not all doctors and nurses know how to evaluate and manage breastfeeding. snip I totally disagree with your opinion that "Tabitha Walrond -- like all new moms today -- was under considerable pressure to breast-feed..." On the contrary, I see formula pushed like crazy on all moms by doctors, nurses, and formula reps and I see breastfeeding mismanaged and sabotaged every day. Health care providers are supposed to be reporting new findings and making recommendations based on them. To do anything else would be unethical. Why would you dilute the importance of new breastfeeding recommendations by saying "the breast-is-best philosophy [is] peddled by many hospitals as if bottle-feeding were tantamount to child abuse." You wouldn't want health care providers to stop giving advice about the dangers of smoking and drinking during pregnancy, or the use of car seats, or putting babies on their backs to sleep. Thanks for reporting on all facets of this very sad story. Please be fair and don't imply that bottle feeding is the cure all. Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC Louisiana Breastfeeding MediaWatch Campaign ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html