What Can We Do About Infertility Bashing?
We can't stop the micro-criticism, but we can learn to rise above it!
I've written before about the rampant infertility bashing (Let's Stop the Infertility Bashing and Win the Public Relations War!) occurring in the press with both negative news articles about infertility and all those nasty misinformed comments that follow. And I applaud the robust discussion, led by our patient advocacy organizations, going on in both mainstream and social media about the need for infertility patients to speak out about their plight.
There seems to be consensus about the importance of patients breaking the barriers of silence in order to affect change regarding insurance coverage, research funding, and commanding the respect the disease needs from the non-infertile world. Of course for many who are in the midst of the stress and emotional turmoil of treatment, speaking out may not be an option -- not yet anyway. They may not be emotionally ready to have told their family and closest friends about their infertility battle, let alone strangers, the general public, or journalists. But I applaud the brave men and women who are stepping forward and letting the chips fall where they may by speaking to the press. I consider someone like Melanie Thernstrom (Meet the Twiblings, New York Times) to be very brave in exposing her infertility journey with such frank honesty and also politely responding to the many critics who dissected her every word.
So how does this translate into the real world of fertility providers who want to get some publicity for the great services they offer -- especially with NIAW around the corner? Here are a few suggestions:
1) Ask patients if they are willing to talk to the media before you get a media request: Survey both current and former patients via your regular communication vehicles before you need to scramble to find someone when your local newspaper reporter calls. There are many who will be more than willing to share their story despite any potential criticism from the bashers.
2) Prepare patients: With the proliferation of comment sections and blogs where anyone, informed or misinformed, can speak his or her mind, it is important to prepare patients for the possibility of negative remarks.
3) Provide media training: Media training can be invaluable for both professionals and patients. It can be as simple as role playing and a pep talk or can involve a formal training session with video taping with a PR specialist. But please prepare everyone who will be talking to a journalist and, if possible, be there for the interview. Also let interviewees know they don't need to reveal every detail of their life or experience, but only the information they feel comfortable sharing. Just because a reporter asks a question does not mean they need to answer it.
It is possible for the infertility field to win the public relations war, but it probably only will be accomplished one battle at a time, starting with your fertility organization.