Cindy,
Do you know why your supervisor wants you to go to this conference?  It
does put you in a difficult place--if we're perceived as being too
fanatical it's hard to get anywhere.

To tell you the truth, when I thought about how I'd react if I was asked to
do this, my first thought was -- what a deal!  A work day I could sit and
veg out instead of running nonstop trying to fit in inpt. rounds, outpt.
consults, phone calls, etc.  Forgive me if I'm being stupid and you can all
berate me if I am, but IS this unethical?

  I don't take anything from formula companies, either, and despite the
fact that my hospital has a formula contract it was through my impassioned
efforts that we at least are not obligated to give their materials out to
breastfeeding mothers.  Isn't there a difference between accepting formula
company money or gifts and sitting through a conference they have
sponsored?  And are they actually doing the conference or merely one of the
sponsors?  Since most organizations don't "get it," even our state
perinatal organization's conferences regularly have formula companies as
two of several sponsors.  You wouldn't have to eat their food or take their
freebies if you went to the conference!  And if the formula company is
actually doing the conference, it might be nice to see what information
they're putting out.  Politically speaking, it may be to your benefit to go
and listen and be able to critique what you heard to your manager rather
than be perceived as a nutcase.

So, is it unethical to go, or not?

Becky Krumwiede, RN, IBCLC, Appleton, WI
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