One of my pet peeves is nurses who insist on referring to these
abominations as "gift packs"  I have no qualms about correcting them in
front of patients pointing out that they can't be considered "gifts"
when their primary purpose is advertising and attempting to gain
customers!
As I understand it, Kathleen Huggins had no control over the fact that
the first two chapters of her book have been put into the bags.  When
you sign over book rights to a publisher, they can usually do whatever
they wish with the material unless you have been able to get specific
limitations put into the contract.  As one person put it a number of
years ago, "Those words are no longer mine, they belong to the
publisher."  I believe she is aware of the use to which her writing has
been put.
I was eavesdropping the other day when one of the reps was interviewing
the charge nurse.  (I kept quiet except for asking where his visitor ID
badge was.  He only had his company badge showing-the hospital visitor
ID was being worn INSIDE his suit coat-not where it could be seen.)
Anyway, one of the questions was whether the formula is ever removed
before the bags are given to the moms.  I was tempted to say "Sure, when
the moms are smart enough to take it out, leave it behind, and just use
the bags."  While I admire Lori's attempt to lessen their impact by
removing the formula, I wonder if there is anything in their contract
that prohibits this.  Also, while a bag without the sample is probably
not as bad as one with it, there is still the advertising.  The bags are
so familiar that when people see them, they immediately think "Enfamil"
or "Similac" just by the visual image of the bag even when the logo
itself is not obvious.  The mere fact that it comes from a formula
company carries the implication that formula is a normal part of infant
feeding!
When I was still doing floor nursing and a mom would give me the coupon,
I would point out that it is actually their primary means of advertising
and the coupons are sent out because more and more hospitals are
refusing to do their advertising for them for free.  If a mom still
insisted she wanted the bag, I made sure to point out the fact that too
easy availability of the formula can lead to early stopping of
breastfeeding.  I would encourage them to leave the formula behind and
just take the bag.  If they still took the formula, my next
recomendation was to immediately take out the formula and give it to a
bottlefeeding friend, a food pantry, or at least put it out of sight on
a back shelf and consider using in in cooking or baking.
Winnie

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