Linda is concerned that participating in the lavish tour and dinner offered by a breastpump company at the ILCA 2005 conference may have violated one of our IBLCE Code of Ethics tenets. I'd say: probably not -- although it may not pass one's personal "smell test," as clearly it did not for Linda. The Code requires us to base our practice on current research (Tenet 7), and to provide information that allows a mom to make an informed decision (Tenet 11), partcularly about products (Tenet 12). But we are also admonished to "remain free of conflict of interest" while fulfilling one's IBCLC objectives (Tenet 5). While the marketing tactics used were similar to those employed by the pharmaceutical companies (the point of Linda's post), remember that the breastpump companies are NOT subject to the [WHO] Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substititues .... because they don't market breastmilk substitutes. Tenet 24 of the Code requires IBCLCs to follow the provisions of the WHO Code that apply to health care workers .... which means we cannot take any gifts (dinners, pens, mugs, badge holders, etc) from the marketers of breastmilk substitutes, teats and bottles. (FYI -- they aren't supposed to be offering it to us, anyway, so it is a "Two-Way No-No"). See www.iblce.org to read all 25 IBLCE Code of Ethics tenets. Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC Wyndmoor, PA, 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