The beautiful artwork is enough reason to visit the site, thanks for sharing
it, Magda.

One of the potential challenges to the code that he mentions is the
possibility of it being considered a restraint of trade (in a climate in
which trade laws are being liberalized).

In the U.S. there has been a huge surge in consumer marketing of many
prescription drugs, and all the ads carry extensive (sometimes graphic)
warnings about side effects.  This is surely not voluntary....does it apply
only to prescription products?  The FDA regulates infant food - but do they
treat it as a drug product, or as a food?  Remember the tobacco wars, they
started with a surgeon general's warning printed on each package.

I wonder if the best hope for enforcement of the code in the U.S. is through
the adoption/endorsement of it by professional organizations.  I know ILCA
has (and the LCs I know take it very seriously), what about AAP?  AAFP?
ACOG?  What about nursing associations, pharmacists' associations, etc.?  I'm
sure all of these professions have ethics rules and committees.  Anyone
working on initiatives within these organizations?

Dh and I wrote a continuing education article on drugs and breastfeeding for
Drug Topics ( <A HREF="http://www.drugtopics.com/ce/2000/ce041700.pdf">http://
www.drugtopics.com/ce/2000/ce041700.pdf</A> ) and discussed the code as one
of the learning objectives.  We argued that artificial infant milk *is* a
drug product and that pharmacists should consider the ethicial implications
of its promotion and sale.

There are retail chains that refuse to carry cigarettes, pornographic
magazines, and alcohol (which state laws regulate as well).  Why not
artificial infant milk?

Elaine Ziska
feeling feisty in Jackson, MS


<< Two new articles which look at Ted Greiner's website:
 www.welcome.to/breastfeeding

 The History and Importance of the Innocenti Declaration

 The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes:  is it still
 relevant? >>

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