Debbie has put forth an intriguing suggestion regarding placing these 3  ILCA 
publications on video. It would certainly be an eye opener! It's  interesting 
that during NABA's current round of Code monitoring in the US, we  have seen 
that the lure of something for free, i.e. the commercial discharge  bags, 
overwhelms both the research and common sense when it comes to the use of  
formula. Even though mothers and health care providers may know or be informed  about 
the health hazards of using infant formula, they are lured by the aspect  of 
something free, as if they were entitled to it. The power of "free" seems to  
cancel out the known health risks no matter how many times people are told 
that  infant formula is not equivalent to human milk. "Free" seems to be the key 
to  formula marketing that overcomes professional ethics and parental 
judgement. No  one wants to miss out on something free.
 
Physicians are compromised by free meals and educational sessions, nurses  
are compromised by free food and trinkets, parents judgement is compromised by  
free cans of formula, gifts, and coupons (now called "checks" to make them 
seem  not as cheap!). The original free food has trouble competing with free 
goods and  services that stack up higher in the minds of everyone except the baby.
 
Too bad health care providers' professional ethics are so easily overcome  by 
free stuff. This pandering by formula companies obviously works. None of this 
 stuff is free. There is a high health care cost and damage to the image of 
the  medical and nursing professions when they insist on pimping for formula  
companies. Maybe a video would be a unique way to get this point across. I 
would  just be happy to find the funds for NABA to publish the new US Code 
monitoring  report! However, if funds become available for a hazards of formula video 
I  would certainly love to participate!
 
Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html