In a message dated 12/26/02 5:23:54 PM Central Standard Time, Kate H. writes:

> The more serious matter is the pediatrician who
> disallows lactation to see "his" patients, regardless
> of the OB request or the *mother herself*.  WHO is
> giving this person the authority to make statements
> and rules like that?   I assume he is giving it to
> himself, inappropriately.   My academic husband
> recently has been exploring the issues of who gives a
> person authority to pass down laws, give directions,
> take over office space, etc. and finding that issues
> are often more easily resolved when one searches for
> the "true" authority.    I know it's hard in your
> situation, but sheesh.  he has no right and no
> authority to undermine the mothers' needs.

Thanks, Kate, for a wonderful post.  This is a frustrating situation for
those of us who continually work to empower young women to stand up for
themselves.  There is an infertility specialist physician in our area who
also "forbids" his patients to see a lactation consultant either in the
hospital or after going home!  He threatens them with dropping them as
patients if they "disobey" his commands.  He also yells at his patients if
they gain more than 15 pounds during the pregnancy.  When I spoke to one
expecting couple, they raved about this doctor who "gave" them their first
baby after years of infertility.  The dad said he didn't appreciate his wife
crying after every doctor visit, but they would tolerate it just to keep him
as their doctor because he (the doc) was able to get them pregnant twice.
UGH.

Kathy Parkes, RN, IBCLC, RLC
San ANtonio, TX

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