IBLCE will no longer award CERPs for any educational activity conducted by
companies who manufacture or market any products within the scope of the WHO
Code.  Code compliance is not the issue for IBLCE, the issue is whether they
will endorse giving the responsibility of keeping certified health
professionals updated to companies whose own interests are not the interests
of the population the health professionals will be serving.

This decision parallels similar decisions on the part of other professional
associations worldwide, who have lately realized there is a need to make it
clear to users of health services that the professionals have the users'
interests uppermost, and not the interests of the last drug or equipment
company to visit their office or sponsor a dinner with a bogus lecture
thrown in to make it look serious.

My personal hope is that IBLCE will see the problems inherent in pretending
that everyone who works to help mothers breastfeed, not to mention the
breastfeeding women themselves, have identical interests to the
manufacturers and vendors of equipment and materials used by lactating
women. I hope they will place strict limits on the role played by any such
company in the educational activities for which CERPs are awarded, not just
the companies that manufacture bottles and teats.  The statement posted on
the IBLCE website gives grounds for optimism.   

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome