Dear Friends:
    Our local nursing mothers' group has been approached by a LC (who is in
private practice, and does advertise her business) to do volunteer
counseling. We are concerned about the possibility that a LC  doing volunteer
counseling could profit commercially. Other LCs in the area who are not doing
volunteer counseling might be excluded from the market place  by a
LC/counselor, as the LC/counselor would have an advantage with meeting the
public.
    Do we accept her to do other volunteer work that the group needs, such as
newsletter or administration? What should a policy say?
    This brings up other similar concerns, such as a lay counselor who sells
other products (like Tupperware or  cosemetics) to the mothers she counsels.
What about that?
    What about counselors that rent pumps? They make money in their group.
Should they counsel?
    How have other groups dealt with this issue? We are concerned that
counselors could profit financially from their relationship with the mothers
that they counsel. We are concerned about ethics. What should a policy say to
cover this situation?
    Warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MSN, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CIMI
craniosacral therapy practitioner; childbirth educator
Elkins Park (a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; northeastern USA)
supporter of the WHO Code and the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative

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