Hello, All.
       Janet asks, "Ethically, can/should a NON-IBCLC meet with a patient for
a "Lactation Consult."
       OK, let me first preface my comments with the fact that I am not, and
never have been, a hospital-based IBCLC--just so everyone knows I'm limited in
hospital protocol knowledge.
       Since in America it is perfectly legal, at the present time, for
anyone to call themselves a "Lactation Consultant", I don't see how it can be
unethical for a Non-IBCLC to meet with a mother.  However, I would hope that you
can educate the doctors--after all, they are writing the less-than-specific
orders--about the different levels of competency.  If the doc truly wants an
IBCLC, s/he should say so.  But the IBCLCs on staff do themselves and the mothers a
favor, in my opinion, by working to make sure all staff have correct
breastfeeding information.  This saves the time of the IBCLC for those really tough
cases.  It would also be necessary to impress upon the non-IBCLC staff that it
is perfectly proper to recognize and admit when they don't know what to do with
any given situation and call in the IBCLC for help.  What moms want, need and
deserve is consistent information coming from all hospital personnel who talk
to them about breastfeeding, and information about what "IBCLC" means in
terms of competence and just who on staff has that certification if that mom is
having a problem.
       Legally, I don't see that you have grounds for specifying that only
IBCLCs do "Lactation consults."  Practically, I wonder if a hospital-based IBCLC
ever has enough time to do *all* the consultations.  Doctors and mothers
should have the right to know the credentials and competency level of the
person(s) working with the mother on breastfeeding issues.  And non-IBCLC staff who
are helping mothers with breastfeeding issues should always know when to call in
the IBCLC and be willing to do so.  (In an ideal world.  I can always dream,
right?)
       Dee

Dee Kassing, BS, MLS, IBCLC
Collinsville, Illinois, in central USA

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

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html