I write an on-going column for Babyzone.com on breastfeeding.  As I was
negotiating the contract, I was most concerned about the possibility that
the site (being commercial) might put a formula banner near my name or
articles.  We went round and round on this point with them telling me this
WAS a commercial site and the ad company sells the ad space and they
(editors) have no control over that. This site mostly has ads for toys or
clothes/furniture etc, but occasionally they do have formula ads.  I
couldn't control their whole site, but  I persisted in saying that it was an
ethical issue with me and that I wouldn't sign the contract if such ads were
placed by my by-line or articles.  I feel that such proximity would appear
to parents as an endorsement from me of those products, and would undermine
my professional ethics.  The best I could do was to get a waiver that allows
me to break my contract if they ever put such an ad near my work.  I can't
imagine the Sear's need the money, so I am assuming the intent is to try to
get their message out.  Having to figure out this sort of thing is not
something I was ever trained to do, and it is scary territory for me, who is
a working LC.  I'm doing the best I can trying to stay clean while making a
living.  I would hope others would not rush to judge me if, in spite of my
best and most sincere efforts to do so, I got put in a compromising
situation.  I think it is ok to communicate concern to the Sear's, but
rushing to judgement holds risks.

Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

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