Here is a letter that I sent to the NCBPNP in regards to the code
violations in the Pediatric Nursing journal. Vol. 26, no.5:



Dear NCBPNP,

Today I received a courtesy copy of the September/ October issue of a
journal entitled "Pediatric Nursing." This was apparently forwarded to
me because of my status as a CPN, certified by your organization.

This journal is in such flagrant violation of the WHO's code for the
marketing of breastmilk substitutes that I feel compelled to call your
attention to the obvious conflict of interest that is set up by your
having given my address to this publisher.

As a Pediatric Nurse I hold myself professionally accountable for the
information I share with families and how it might influence the health
of their children. When a professional journal is endorsed by my
certifying body, I expect it to do the same.

There are five full pages of advertising for artificial baby foods and
feeding systems in this issue. Worse yet, there is an article (pages
516-520) that purports to help pediatric nurses know when babies have
cows milk allergies and what to do about them.

No mention is made in this article as to the recommended management of
breastfed babies with apparant food allergies. It is implied that such
management would mimic that of their artificially fed counterparts;
switch to another "formula." This is clearly misleading to pediatric
nursing professionals who are, as the article states "in an excellent
position to educate families regarding appropriate feeding options for
infants with digestive disorders."

I am appalled and hope my professional certifying body will pay closer
attention to it's future endorsements. I encourage the NCBPNP to be
explicit with the publishers of  "Pediatric Nursing" as to the
problematic wholesale promotion of artificial baby milks in a
publication designed to promote child health.

Susan Keith-Hergert RN, MS, CPN, IBCLC

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