I really enjoyed reading Magda's international perspective on this topic.
However, I have to comment on the unethical reasoning being displayed about
products.  How come a chiropractor has vitamins in his office to complement
his/her therapies and it isn't seen as a conflict?

And, I recently had a new breastpump product that I sold that didn't meet the
needs of my clients and I did a lot of work to support the returns for
revised pumps for all of my clients.  Now, if I hadn't worked with these clients,
even borrowing pumps to them in the interim, these women would have purchased
their pumps at a retail store and would have had low volumes pumped and be not
breastfeeding today.  Ethically, did I do the right thing?  Absolutely!  Even
to the point of no longer carrying the product.

My whole reasoning for becoming a rental station for breastpumps 3 years ago
was being tired of seeing my neighbors purchasing/renting their pumps from a
store with no instructions on its use and losing their milk and quitting.  The
stores cannot liability-wise do any instruction on the use of breastpumps, so
they sell the products in a sealed box, and the women take it home and misuse
it.  Am I unethical to try to sell a product with the professional ability to
educate clients on its proper use?

Now I realize I could tell the client to go over to the nearby store and
purchase the pump and then come back to me and I'll teach you how to use it.
Hmm....I doubt I'd have many clients and I absolutely wouldn't have an office in
the community.  In my part of the world I need this marketing tool to obtain
and retain clients.  I understand it is different in other parts of the world.
Since it is different and we are international, we need to accept the fact
that the sale of products may be deemed ethical in one part of the world and not
in another just like the professional functions ethically different in many
parts of the world.

Carol Chamblin, RN, MS, IBCLC
Breast 'N Baby Lactation Services, Inc.
St. Charles, IL

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