Today the rep from one of the ABM companies came to the Lactation Center and
tried to hand me a flyer about a program they are presenting at our hospital
soon. Here is the dialog:
Rep " Here is a flyer I would like for you to post".
Me: " We are International Board Certifed Lactation Consultants and will not
attend any programs from your company because it is a violation of our
professional ethics and a violation of the World Health Organization Code of
Marketing of Artificial Baby Milk of which your company has been in violation
of for years"
Rep: "But it's educational"
Me: "No it isn't. It is a marketing ploy to create product branding of your
company in the minds of the staff. You are not a Health Educator sir, but a
sales representative."
Rep" But it is a doctor"
Rep: "A free lunch is included"
Me: " There's no such thing as a free lunch. That's just another marketing
ploy".
Rep: " The doctors here put it up in their departments"
Me: " I can't speak for their sense of ethics but I remain strong in mine and
I refuse to promote your company, products or  sales programs. Good Bye"
Rep: Looking very confused " But the doctor signed a conflict of agreement
waiver"
Me: silence. He left.

I turned around and the office assistant and the intern had dropped their
mouths onto the floor. Totally shocked. My intern said she had never heard
words spit out so fast of a person's mouth. The assistant said she was so
glad I was there because she would have never known what to say to him.
I think tomorrow I will print out the Code and attach to the bulletin board
where the flyer is posted.
I think I am the first IBCLC in our hospital to object. The others went up to
eat lunch at one of the presentations last year and when I tried to explain
that we cannot accept lunch, they just said it's free.
At the last presentation ( the DHA one) the nurses were given insulated lunch
bags but I was not working that day so I couldn't say anything but now all
the nurses are carrying those bunny rabbit lunch bags.
 I was ready for this one.

Barb Whitehead, BS, IBCLC
Eastern NC
(feeling very proud today because I also got alot of work done on a series of
3 breastfeeding inservices  that I am doing this spring to our staff. And I
also have almost finalized our nipple shield policy. For those of you who
shared yours with me, I will sent you copies of our final one when it is
approved. And the intern and myself have finished updating our patient
education booklet to match the Guidelines for BFing during the first 14 Days
and made it less wordy. It is almost ready to go to the print shop!)

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