Yesterday the Boston Globe and Associated Press printed stories regarding  
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney replacing 3 Public Health Council members who 
 were vocal in their support of removing formula company discharge bags from 
the  hospital. Fearful that he might lose the good will of industry, he and 
the  office of Administration and Finance have engaged in a behind-the-scenes  
political maneuvering that saw the prohibition of even submitting new language  
for a vote. This is someone who thinks he wants to run for president showing 
his  true colors about his total disregard for public health. The story can be 
found  at:
 
_http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/05/20/romney_ove
rhauls_ 
(http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/05/20/romney_overhauls) 
_panel_that_backed_ban_on_baby_formula_giveaways/ 
 
The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition (MBC) continues to work to  update 
the new members of the Council and will be present on Tuesday for the  Public 
Health Council discussion on the issue. The formula companies have been  busy 
trying to counter our efforts with their bogus mothers' survey in  
Massachusetts and their hospital staff dinners that are thinly veiled attempts  to bribe 
health care providers into supporting gift bags and infant formula.  
Veronica's description of the Mead Johnson dinner is a sad commentary on the  ethics of 
many nurses and physicians. Is it any wonder why breastfeeding care  and 
services in many hospitals are so poor. MBC has placed on its  website a hospital 
report card of the hospitals in Massachusetts relative  to their breastfeeding 
initiation rank and whether or not they distribute  formula gift bags. You 
can see this at _www.massbfc.org_ (http://www.massbfc.org) . It always amazes me 
how  nurses, physicians, and politicians can demonstrate such loyalty to 
formula  companies while cavalierly risking the health of mothers and babies for 
"free"  meals. Talk about selling out! Too bad they are not as interested in 
promoting  and protecting public health.
 
Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA
 



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