Hi, it's me again, the happy letter-writer.:-)

To all my fellow Lactnetters who are celebrating Thanksgiving, may you
have a joyous holiday (and don't forget to distinguish physiologic from
anatomic stomach size when chowing down!):^).

Thankfully yours,
Marjorie in Brooklyn



Dr. Carden Johnston, President
American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL  60009-0927

November 26, 2003

Dear Dr. Johnston,

I am dismayed and outraged at the news of your recent letter to Secretary
Thompson regarding the upcoming Ad Council Campaign for Breastfeeding
Awareness. In urging Sec. Thompson to consider having the campaign
reworded to avoid projecting a “negative” message, the only negative
message to come across is your apparent cooptation by the artificial baby
milks industry.  As President of America’s most esteemed medical body, you
have as your highest mandate to promote an unadulterated vision for the
protection of the health and welfare of our nation’s most precious and
vulnerable resource, its children.  In this mission, you have failed.

I won’t take up unnecessary space by citing the endless studies linking
various acute health risks with not breastfeeding, in a noble attempt to
convince you of what you must already know.  (Or don’t you?)  Or, perhaps
you are of the mindset – an unfortunate legacy of several generations
deprived of the biological norm - that somehow cannot, or will not, come
to terms with the unpleasant reality that not breastfeeding, indeed
artificial feeding, poses demonstrable risks to infants and their
mothers.  Many adults actually don’t know this, and when apprised of the
facts, feel more empowered to make a better-informed decision on the
nourishment and nurturing of their future children.  Many of those women
who did not have access to this information at childbirth often feel anger
and resentment at an establishment that robbed them of life’s most natural
and normal experience. (No, I’m not citing the references on this; you
have them.)

In our personal and professional lives we are all continually called upon
to walk the proverbial fine line that divides self-serving interest and
the greater good:  This is that nebulous area blanketly known as ethics,
Dr. Johnston.  I remind you of this quaint detail because it seems your
vision of the forest has been obscured by a haze of dollar green trees.
You have mixed agendas, and thus have crossed that fine line.  In
circumventing your colleagues within the Breastfeeding section of the AAP –
 those whose contributions to this extremely important campaign
deliberately and scrupulously adhered to the most rigorous standards of
research and accuracy – you chose the path of deceit.  And in allowing the
insidious and venous tactics of Industry to strong-arm you into a soft-
pedal approach which dilutes the power of the current Ad Council Campaign,
you chose greed over public service:  again, the lower path. (Perhaps
alongside your alignment with baby milks companies, you might research
more effective reflux medications, as there seems to be a collective
buildup of bile among those “abreast” of your recent display of untoward
affiliations.)

Yet, it is never too late to be enlightened, Dr. Johnston.  Now is your
chance to truly make good on your imperative as one of our country’s most
respected health leaders.  I urge you to retract your misguided appeal to
Sec. Thompson and support the original Ad Council Campaign.  Our current
population is being plagued by ill health predicated on suboptimal
nutrition from the very outset. Future generations of Americans are
entitled to better health outcomes.  If their parents are adequately
informed, our nation’s littlest citizens can have the most normal and
natural start to their lives.  They deserve this much, don’t you agree?

Sincerely,


Marjorie Vera
Breastfeeding counselor, mother of two breastfed children

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