Elisa wrote:
"becoming clear that just about every conference, seminar, etc. has
pharmaceutical sponsorship.  Provided that it's limited to drugs for
specific conditions, I haven't had too much of a problem with that.  I
have not yet encountered one that was sponsored by the specific division
that handles the infant nutritionals.  I know THAT is a line I would be
very uncomfortable crossing.  But the others?  Still struggling"

Every year, my dh, who is a graphic designer, web designer,  illustrator and college instructor gets a free pass to the huge MacIntosh show in Boston. Of course he goes--he wants to see all the new toys (I mean products), b/c he uses them and teaches about them and this venue is informative. But, he certainly wouldn't go if Microsoft (a Mac competitor) sponsored the event, passed out Microsoft literature but hired Mac "experts" to give the demos, even if those experts said they just wanted to be sure that accurate info was given out. It all seems so absurd when applied to any other field, but we struggle with it here purely b/c our "product" has no corporation behind it. I certainly see the conundrum, but I think we are proceeding w/ blinders on if we cannot see the implicit approval our presence implies. The other thing that this issue does is divide us. Those who would not attend or speak are seen as "extreme and militant" in comparison to their "rational, balanced" colleagues. I am not saying this is a simple issue, but I think it is too simple to say that the end justifies the means. I think we need to contemplate how our choices on this issue effect bf'ing in a broader way, not just at one event.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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