NOTE:There is an edited version of this to get down to a 250-word limit, but this longer version has a bit more information. The shorter version was published by the Bloomington Herald-Times on May 12, 2001.
To The Editor:
A tragic situation in our justice system was exacerbated by the H-T’s sloppy coverage of the recent meeting of the Monroe County Commissioners.
The May 5th article, “Nursing Moms Descend upon Commissioners,” was overflowing with misinformation, inaccuracies and omissions.
Several mothers and concerned members of the community presented persuasive, sound evidence to the commissioners regarding the welfare of nursing children, including the difficulties presented by abrupt weaning, and interruption of the parent-child bond. These speakers urged the County Commissioners to work with the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants employed by the hospital, with whom the jail already contracts for medical services, to formulate a better policy.
Following these speakers, Marc Haggerty spoke passionately and colorfully about the “war on drugs.” Whether or not everyone protesting the Darcy Leonard situation agreed with him, his speech was focused on broader issues.
However, in the May 5th article, all of the mothers were summarily lumped into a short paragraph, followed by direct quotes from Haggerty, thus blurring the issue by changing its focus.
Sheriff Steve Sharp responded following Haggerty. He indicated that because Leonard was arrested on drug charges (from three years ago, prior to being pregnant) she was not allowed to nurse. He did not, as the H-T reported, disallow contact because she had drugs in her system. At no time was she given a drug test.
The harm done by the H-T’s neglect was evident in the letter to the editor in today’s paper, “Bad Assumption,” in which Dr. Laughlin implies that the activist mothers were advocating for a child to be breast-fed by a mother who is currently either doing or selling drugs. Leonard has been charged with a crime from three years ago. She has not been found guilty, and there is no evidence that she has exposed her baby to any drugs.
It is hardly surprising that H-T’s coverage missed the point these mothers were making as seated at the press desk in the commissioners meeting were two individuals, one who seemed to doze off and another who left during Mr. ONeil’s response commenting to me, “I don’t have a nursing baby, so I’m going to get some coffee.” This sort of disrespect does a great disservice to our community, creating disharmony and making it even harder for us to work together for the good of our children.
Amy Clendening Makice