In a message dated 98-09-18 07:38:49 EDT, Loni Denman writes:

<< Can someone explain this one????  Today I was advised by hospital "legal"
that
 having M____a "I'm a breastfeeding baby boy" or "I'm a breastfeeding baby
 girl" crib cards at the head of the baby's crib is a breach of
 confidentiality, i.e., anyone can see and read that headline clearly from a
 distance and now will KNOW something confidential about that baby.  Is this a
 case of pushing the envelope or what?  A non supportive breastfeeding ICN
 nurse reported the use of the cards to legal dept. after I brought them onto
 the unit.  What do you think?   >>


Loni -- conceivably this could be a problem if you parents might **prefer***
confidentiality in this matter.   But if parents are ** asking** that everyone
be made aware of their babies' bf status, then they are waiving their right to
confidentiality, it seems to me.   The upshot is that you probably need to say
to parents something like, "Great!  Shall I put this card in the crib?  Then
everyone will know the baby is being bf and that you don't want any bottles,
OK?"   and, if necessary, chart it.  Everybody's behind is covered, and the
card goes in.

Of course I'm not working in the hospital (though I do have a lot to do with
lawyers -- dh is a litigator :-).   And as Pat rightly says, the better part
of valor may be to just do the generic card -- then you might be able to avoid
a fight, and save your ammo for a different battle.

Elisheva Urbas
NYC