Family ‘Law’

The TV season’s first episode of “L.A. Law”--raising the question of pregnancy resulting from the relationship of the characters Benny and Alice--sent the wrong message to families with mentally retarded sons and daughters. No media should encourage in any way the mentally retarded to have children. It is hard enough to bring children up properly when both parents are “normal” and financially secure.

This letter is not being written to save taxpayers the expense of caring for the mentally retarded; it is written to spare the heartache of families already burdened with how to best care for and prepare for the future of their offsprings after they are gone . . . a monumental job.

I would like to suggest that “L.A. Law” finalize Benny and Alice’s dilemma with the conclusion that, while it is not a good idea for them to have children of their own, they can find rich fulfillment in volunteering at a nursery school for developmentally disabled toddlers.

JOAN SIEGEL

Los Angeles