Well, no doubt you are right about keeping the formula companies from
mothers.  This is unethical, and this is an unethical business the way
they run it.  Absolutely, doctors should not give out these samples (or
literature either).

But the hospital gives its "seal of approval" if it gives out samples.
Tell me, would your hospital accept money from a cigarette company in
exchange for putting up a cigarette machine in the wards?  I don't see
any difference in the two situations.

By the way, assuming you have 2000 births a year.  Assuming *all*
mothers formula feed.  Let us say that the mothers stay an average of
two days in hospital.  Let us say the babies feed an average of four 4
oz bottles of formula a day, at a cost of $2.00/bottle.  That cost for
the hospital is $32,000/year.  The hospital spends more on that for
sticky labels.  They sell out very cheap, they do.  They should pay for
their formula.  Maybe then they would be more inclined to promote
breastfeeding.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC