Could you please review this before I click on the SEND button......
Many thanks....
Patricia
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December 27, 2001
Dear Mr. Langevin,
In your response to my letter you stated:
"Whenever a customer provides personal information to Thyme Maternity
on-line or at our retail outlets, we use practical safeguards to make
certain that the appropriate steps are taken to ensure your privacy. One of
the privacy principles allows anyone to withdraw at anytime consent to
receive information regarding special offers, promotions and/or information.
"
I must say that at NO TIME WHAT SO EVER were my sister or myself made aware
of your intent to provide her or my name to any company especially Mead
Johnson. So I ask....how were we (or any other unsuspecting mother) to know
that we should ask for our names to be removed? I am assuming that as
consumers we consented to have our names dispersed to manufacturers of
artificial infant milk just by purchasing an article of clothing. We entered
no contests and the store received my sister's name due to the fact she
placed something on lay-away. So in actuality the statement which you make
does no apply to us, yet you still gave out her name.
It is unethical to give out names unless the persons are aware. By this I
mean having a signature of consent fully making them aware that they will
receive formula on their door step soon after the birth of their baby, and
not just a signature requesting name removal. I would like to add that many
women are interested in receiving knowledge regarding infant nutrition, but
are unaware of the unethical marketing tactics that will be put into play by
signing a card requesting such information.
The responses I have received from consumers, regarding my original letter
to you, has been shock and dismay that they now know where they got that
elusive can of formula. Each person has commented that they will be
boycotting your store, not just because of your affiliation with M-J, but
due to the fact that you are distributing names without consent. (Some
American contacts that have read my original letter now know that they have
received their "samples" from formula companies affiliated with American
stores they have shopped at.)
Again I must state that :
Article five of the code applies to contact between companies and the
general
public.:
5.2
manufacturers and distributors should not provide, directly or indirectly,
to
pregnant women, mothers or members of their families, samples of products
within
the scope of this code."
5.3...."there should be no...promotional device to induce sales directly to
the
consumer....."
5.5 " Marketing personnel, in their business capacity, should not seek
direct
or indirect contact of any kind with pregnant women or with mothers of
infants
and young children."
Here are more references on formula discharge gift packs:
http://www.mothering.com/SpecialArticles/Issue101/formulaprofit.htm
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/bf/tensteps.pdf
Auerbach K. Discharge milk samples. Pediatrics 1993 Feb; 91(2):518-519 a
letter by Lactnet's own Kathy A on the 1992 Dungy article
Bliss MC, et al. The effect of discharge pack formula and breast pumps on
breastfeeding duration and choice of infant feeding method. Birth 1997 Jun;
24(2):90-97. see also comments by Bliss in Birth 24(4):202
Howard C and FM Howard. Commentary: Discharge packs: how much do they
matter?
Birth 1997 Jun; 24(2):198-101
Howard C, Howard F, Lawrence R, Andresen E, DeBlieck E, Weitzman M.
Office prenatal formula advertising and its effect on breast-feeding
patterns.
Obstet Gynecol 2000 Feb;95(2):296-303
Presenting mothers with artificial infant milk invites the use of such a
product. If lack of education regarding brestfeeding exists, the use of AIM
is greater. If the mother is encountering difficulty, then the incidence of
use is even greater. In a world where knowledge of breastfeding is either
out of date, and even just plain wrong, breastfeeding will usually be
sacrificed on the alter of ignorance.
If even one baby stops breastfeeding due to the association Thyme Maternity
and Mead Johnson, can you really say that you are supporting a mother and
baby's best interest.
I ask you to reveiw your ethical responsibility to your customers.
Thank you,
Patricia Blomme, RN
I forwarded my original letter to:
Maureen Fjeld, Executive member of the Baby Friendly Initiative of Canada
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Falls/1136/webdoc1.htm
and President Elect of International Lactation Consultant Association
http://users.erols.com/ilca/index.html
Laura de Jong , Editor Birthing Magazine
[log in to unmask]
Lactnet (an on-line support and information board of over 2800 lactation
professionals world wide;
Donna Zelzer:
On Line Birth Center News (where my letter to you appeared);
Leilah McCracken (creator of the Birthlove Website
http://www.birthlove.com
**********************************************************************
Patricia Blomme RN
Perinatal Nurse
VP Canadian Childbirth Association
Birth Educator/Doula
Lay Breastfeeding Counselor
**********************************************
my website: Heads Up! All About Breech Babies
http://www.breechbabies.com
*********************************************
Our greatest food for thought is.......breastmilk!
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