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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this is a bit irresponsible?

40 replies

creampie · 29/12/2015 22:30

I've just watched call the midwife on catch up. Several times the doctor/midwives gave the advice to give aspirin to small children with temperatures. I realise this was probably correct advice at the time the show is set, but we now know it can cause Reye's syndrome if given to young children. I was waiting for some sort of disclaimer at the end of the programme, but there wasn't anything. AIBU to think this is a bit irresponsible? I know most people don't get their medical advice from BBC tv, but surely they should have mentioned something about current medical advice?! It's really dangerous.

OP posts:

JapanNextYear · 30/12/2015 08:37

The doctor also gave the surprised farther a toke on his fag for stress...

ZanyMobster · 30/12/2015 08:50

I remember having junior aspirin and I wasn't born till 79. My friend was given it 11 years ago when pregnant after having several miscarriages to take every day so it can't have been withdrawn that long ago.

I did not know it could cause problems for children until this post however the fact that it is not available for children I think means people wouldn't use it but I don't think disclaimers hurt in these instances. I also do think that TV producers have a responsibility to ensure more recently set programmes are accurate to current medical advice ie CPR as of course it could be a life saver.

LynetteScavo · 30/12/2015 08:54

I remember tasty little aspirin tablets for kids which dissolved on my tongue. Delicious. I polished off a bottle of them when I was about 8.

Maybe there should be disclaimer. People are stupid. But where would it stop. There would be a full ten minutes after period dramas warning about things like seatbelts, smoking, etc.

Enjolrass · 30/12/2015 09:19

If you are taking medical advice from a drama, there are other problems that need addressing.

It's a period drama. If we took out everything that happened then that doesn't now, what would be the point?

Dipankrispaneven · 30/12/2015 09:23

How far would you take the warnings after the programme, though? Imagine the list after something set in the 16th century:
Amputation without anaesthetics is not recommended.
Mental health problems aren't caused by people being possessed by evil spirits.
You need to wash dishes up properly, not scrape them with bunches of twigs.
It's better to have a trained midwife or doctor when you give birth than the local hag.

puppetpoppet · 30/12/2015 09:57

YANBU. It'd crossed my mind too, tbh. The use of aspirin for children is still recent enough that a small reminder is probably useful. It's not exactly the same as smoking.

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 30/12/2015 10:10

It was certainly in the last ten years or so that the use of aspirin for under twelves has been withdrawn. (sorry I know not the right word but haven't had coffee yet....)

HOWEVER....you can't buy junior aspirin anymore and any packet of tablets will tell you how much to give for what age. So while I get your point I think that people should take responsibility to read a packet if they are going to give their child medicine of any description.

eddiemairswife · 30/12/2015 10:29

I remember giving my children Junior Aspirin (tiny orange tablets) at bedtime on the rare occasions they had a high temperature. What surprises me nowadays is how often children appear to be given Calpol. It seems to form part of their regular diet.

eternalopt · 30/12/2015 10:37

YANBU

I agree someone would be silly to take medical advice from a period drama but:
1). There are stupid people out there, and
2). There is a risk that people won't take specific advice, but later down the line, when stressfully dealing with a child with a temperature and trying to get it down, they will have it in their head from somewhere that aspirin is worth a try.

manamanah · 30/12/2015 11:12

my first ever. Enjolrass' post pretty much covers it.

Postchildrenpregranny · 30/12/2015 11:23

Was born in 1950 and clearly remember bright orange junior aspirin which tasted nice .(unlike chalky pink penicillin medicine which has to be be vilest thing ever) Surely can't have done that much harm or they would have withdrawn it sooner ? And if a child had a high temp would it not even now be safer to try and bring it down-with low dose of course .

hefzi · 30/12/2015 12:06

I used to love junior aspirin - but like PP, I don't think it's really necessary to warm people not to take medical advice from a period soap opera. Mind you, I also don't think it's necessary to tell people they may find images of dead animals upsetting on the news, so I might be a bit hardcore about this.

TheSecondViola · 30/12/2015 12:07

If you're stupid enough to medicate your children based on a fictional 1960's bbc programme, a warning afterwards isn't going to stop you.
And we do quite enough pandering to the terminally daft already.

redexpat · 30/12/2015 14:05

I thought the bending of arms on tv when doing cpr was to protect the actor having the heart attack.

abbsismyhero · 30/12/2015 16:01

my sister was a bad sleeper the doctor's advice was rusk in a bottle of ovaltine junior aspirin place baby in the cot close the door and turn the tv up when i was being a troublemaker sleeping she did the same shut the door on me turned the tv up so i used to remove my wet/dirty nappy and hang it on the end of the cot serves her right

we have learned since those days although i admit they could probably use a disclaimer for the people who actually think it's real

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