I am really enjoying this thread because I think it brings to light a lot of the myths about physicians and gifts. Elizabeth, both of your articles discussed all the gifts physicians receive from formula companies and that is where my conflict of interest lies. This must be an old article because gifts are truly a thing of the past. Formula companies, as well as drug companies, do not even leave so much as a pen at my office anymore. I have never been invited on a trip from any drug company or formula company of any kind. Some drug companies sponsor lunches, but I specifically make it a point to not attend formula company lunches because of my lactation training and the possible conflict of interests there. I am also impressed by Dr. Leeper's practice without any formula samples and that is why I am interested to know if she still practices general pediatrics or if she has somehow limited her practice to breastfeeders. The website of the nonprofit that she medically directs is an impressive lactation support center and boutique, but I did not see any indication that a general medical practice happens there or that a formula feeding mom would be able to do much there besides buy baby gifts. This is not at all intended to be criticizing her situation. If she sees general peds patients there I think it is a truly enviable situation and one I would be interested in exploring to replicate. But if is not also a general medical facility I am not sure it is fair to compare it to a general pediatrics practice. Respectfully to all, Liz Dedman, MD, FAAP, IBCLC Growing Healthy Children Louisville, KY [image: Inline image 1] On Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 8:02 AM, Elizabeth Brooks <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Three cheers for Dr. Leeper's Nebraska practice, in which formula samples > are never given out. > > A subsequent poster asks, "How are formula samples for an infant whose mom > 'has made up her mind' that she is formula feeding any different than other > drug samples?" > > They AREN'T any different. NO samples should be given out by ANY > healthcare providers (HCPs): it turns us into sales persons for the drug > companies. > > Dr. Leeper explained that any formula that is used (in lieu of her stash of > pasteurized human milk) **is purchased.** Heck -- the donor milk is > purchased, too. > > There are formula feeding families out there, yes. For a whole host of > reasons, good and bad. But that is totally irrelevant to the notion that > no HCP should be giving any family a free sample of > any clinically-indicated product. To do so is a professional conflict of > interest. > > A classic journal article on the topic is Dana J, Loewenstein G. A social > science perspective on gifts to physicians from industry. JAMA > 2003;290:252–255; an extract can be read at > http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/290/2/252.extract. > > For a nice plain-language FAQs article on conflicts of interest and samples > from the drug co., go to the American Medical Student Assn's > http://www.pharmfree.org/tools/resources_documents/files/0015.pdf. > > -- Liz Brooks JD IBCLC FILCA > Wyndmoor, PA, USA > > *********************************************** > > 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 > *********************************************** 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