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Posted by Hazel G-M
on July 28, 2009, 21:28:54, in reply to "Re: misleading advertising"
86.145.175.221
I sent this mail to Supporters Services on 24th:
Sent this email this am:
To Chris Smith, Supporter Services, GOSH
Dear Chris Smith
Do you have a child with a heart defect? If so you will remember the shock, disbelief and distress you felt when it was first suspected.
For many years parents have been supporting others through that initial, often tentative, diagnosis, demonstrating that the majority of our children survive to live life, with the same chance of happiness as others. In this we have been supported by our paediatric cardiac units, such as GOSH, which have helped us with information that stresses that hope and optimism are not out of place.
But what if, before a pregnancy, before the diagnosis, we learn from an advertisement, backed by the authoritative reputation of GOSH that if it’s not the baby’s heart it can be fixed? The advertisement is appealing to our emotional, not clinical, judgment, so the chances that our first thought would be “oh well, even if it was his heart, it could still be palliated if not corrected”, is unlikely.
Have another look at the fundraising ad I am referring to – here is the link for the people I am copying this to – www.gosh.org/about-us/our-fundraising/?locate=en - and have a go at replacing the word ‘his heart’ with the word ‘leukaemia’ – “It’s not leukaemia, it’s something that can be fixed – you know, there is hope”
And remember that people who are influenced by this advertisement may have to help decide whether to terminate a pregnancy. Not just the expectant mothers, but fathers, grandparents, siblings, friends, whose knowledge and awareness of paediatric cardiac treatment is close to zero.
So please do not dismiss those few experienced people who question the right of GOSH to undermine the parents who come after us. I do not see that there are the huge costs you are implying in changing a voice over, but if there were - well, you got it wrong.
Fix it please.
[my name and address]
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