I just went & started a new topic out on BL's message boards. If anyone else wants to add their comments - it might be a good place for all of us PA people to be seen together.
My message mostly thanked them for the story line - it also said that it's very unrealistic to expect all of us to put our children in a private school and/or pay for a shadow nurse.
But mostly it thanked them for helping us get the word out to the general public about how dangerous peanut allergies really are.
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Sherlyn
Mom to 6.5 year old twins Ben & Mike - one PA & the other not.
Stay Informed And Peanut Free!

Some very good points Amy!
I realized I left a few things out of my other post (shocking I know!) I was actually expecting worse than what aired since it is such an emotional topic they addressed.
I expected the defense to blame the parents, they have to defend their client as another poster mentioned. I'm surrounded by lawyers in the family...I guess I'm just too close to the situation to watch that part comfortably.
The part about private schools and shadow nurses was the only part that really bothered me. The rest just made me uncomfortable realizing how vulnerable my ds, and all our kids are. Meg

Hey,
Everybody check out the Boston Legal message boards and look for the postings by FLteacher2. My sister posted this just a little while ago, and she is a teacher. I think what she says is awesome. Her comments are based on being an aunt to all 3 of my PA/TNA children and teaching a class of children that she has had to make Peanut allergy aware. My son is now in the grade level she teaches and he has her to reading. And, she has caught a child sneaking in PB cups after halloween--let's just say he threw them away.
Believe me, she works from 7:00am until 6:00pm everyday at the school and the pay is terrible. But, that is not why she got into the profession to begin with--the money. Everyone knows this is a low paying, but highly rewarding career choice, and she is a born teacher. Anyway, read the post if you get a chance.
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Stacie - Mother to:
11 yr. PA
8 yr. TNA
3 yr. PA&TNA

I did watch the whole show after I signed off last night and was impressed by the balance of viewpoints presented. Yes, the litigation team suggested a shadow as an alternative for that family but the parents on the stand noted that they did not pursue that option because they were impressed by the teacher and felt it unnecessary. Until the death they trusted and respected her and valued her in their son's classroom. I too trust and respect my son's teachers and I understand that however educated and attentive they are they are human and there could be a tragedy. Our family and the school does everything we can to reduct the risk but risk never gets to zero. I always tell teachers that I understand that and that all I expect is the best that they can do. In the case of the teacher on the show, she did her best in an exceptional circumstance--her father's death--and the show did a good job of balancing her human needs with the demands of an extraordinary situation. I really felt this was an excellent presentation of peanut allergy and the balance of needs of the individual characters. Fictionalized but very heartfelt and realistic. I am sorry so many of you disagree and I mean no disrespect with my alternate opinion.

FAAN has issued a response to the show:
[url="http://www.foodallergy.org/Press_Statements/BostonLegal.html"]http://www.foodallergy.org/Press_Statements/BostonLegal.html[/url]
Press Statement: January 17, 2007
Boston Legal: It

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhDT8wMTZwo&mode=user&search="]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhDT8wMTZwo&mode=user&search=[/url]
Here's a link to the show on You Tube.

Thanks for posting this, esp the youtube link. I thought it was a fair show and sympathized with both sides. Hope it builds some awareness amongst school administrations.

I watched the video and all I can think of is, what about the most of us that don't have the "means"? And even then, this could happen just as easily in a private school. It really doesn't matter how many kids there are if the teachers back is turned.
I understand that the fact that she was worried about her father having surgery but then shouldn't she have had another teacher cover her so that she could go elsewhere to make the call?

Well, as a former teacher in public school myself, what is the teacher doing on the cell phone in class??? I was not permitted to talk on the cell phone in class emergency or not. Also, as an educator, you are ultimately responsible for what goes on in your class health issues and all, period!
I think this show is an example of what schools and educators can "fire" back to the food allergic parents. It gives them room to "find" a way out of responsibility by laying the responsibility on the parents in a school "responsible" environment.
Don't think this show for one minute has helped the food allergy community! This gives the schools ammunition.

Thanks for the link.
I watched the show and thought it was okay for the most part.
I do not believe that anaphylaxis occurs in 20 seconds. At least that hasn't been our experience. That isn't much time for anybody, let alone if they happen to be on the cell phone at the time. I am thankful for FAAN's statement.
I cried alot because it hit so close to home and because I don't fully trust dd's teacher anyway.
I hated that they said it could be the parents fault because they didn't choose to send to private school or have a shadow nurse. I know the private schools I researched around here didn't have any more safeguards if not less than our public.
More than anything though, I finished the episode feeling like it is TOO much for our school teachers. We would be naive to think they NEVER step out of the classroom for 20 seconds for whatever reason.
There NEEDS to be more school nurses. I know ours is there only on Fridays.
If something happened to my dd at school, I would blame myself because deep down I know that the only person I trust to keep her safe is myself. School feels like a risk to me everyday. I do my best to educate everyone but after dealing w/ this for 8 yrs now, I feel like the only people that truly understands is our immediate family.
Thank goodness as she gets older, she can be an advocate for herself also.
For example today in her "peanut free" class one of the students brought in choc chunk cookies and the teacher passed them out! My dd knew she couldn't eat and didn't. What if she were younger and just wanted a cookie? Not to mention, the teacher is not supposed to be allowing ANY food into the classroom unless approved by me! Ugh...yet another letter to write.