I agree with Denise about being proud to be an IBCLC. I have been an IBCLC
since 1989 and will most certainly recertify. I was fortunate enough to
serve the IBLCE on their board of directors for the past six years. During
that time I was surrounded by an amazing dedicated group of board members
who worked very hard to serve IBCLCs in their volunteer capacity.There have
been concerns about the Scope of Practice and now the new director. I am
sure that the concerns are duly noted by the Board.
JoAnne Scott was a strong and dedicated leader for the IBLCE for many years.
When she got sick and left the IBLCE, a new Executive Director was hired to
take her place. During this prolonged time of transition, the Board was kept
strong by the Board Chair, board, legal counsel and dedicated staff. I would
like to say that the IBLCE staff is amazingly resourceful and have worked
many hours above and beyond the call of duty to keep the office running
smoothly. Now the office is once again looking for a permanent director to
guide them. I feel sure that the Executive committee has worked hard to hire
this interim director and has put much thought into the hiring. Tincture of
time will tell us if this director is a good fit for the organization.
One thing I know for sure, after being the Chair of the Ethics and
Discipline committee for five years, is that the IBLCE is extremely ethical.
IBCLCs are extremely ethical. I did a talk last week on ethics, and in my
research I found out that in my home state of North Carolina, there are
about as many nurses as there are IBCLCs worldwide. Last year, in NC, there
were over 850 ethics complaints. In the past 22 years, there have been less
than 40 ethics complaints worldwide- period. I am proud of that IBCLCs are
concerned about ethical issues. I am proud that IBCLCs discuss these
concerns among themselves- on Lactnet and elsewhere. We take our Code of
Ethics seriously. 

I agree that while we have the right and privilege of discussing abandoning
our credential due to ethical concerns, the discussion may lead some to
believe that the IBCLC credential is meaningless. That is far from the
truth. We are the gold standard. Most of us are working every day with
mothers and babies who could care less about who our ED is, or the concerns
we have about our Scope of Practice, as long as we are there for them to
help them succeed with breastfeeding. The goal of the IBLCE is to protect
mothers and babies by certifying the finest and most prepared. I have
confidence that the IBLCE board will continue this mission.
Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC
Board Member 2000-2006

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