Re: the recent discussion on whether posts on patenting of human milk
components is appropriate for this site:

1.  Remember the Nestle Boycott, which exists because of the unfathomable
infant deaths that have occurred as a direct result of unethical marketing
of artificial infant milks.  Have we become numb to these annual infant
mortality and morbidity statistics?  We are not discussing the incalculable
suffering in terms of ten babies, a hundred babies, or a thousand babies.
The issue is millions of babies who have died and who continue to suffer
and die because they did not and do not have access to mother's milk.  In
my agnostic view, it is a fundamental Sin to deprive even one baby of
mother's milk.  I have worked with two nurses from Africa who have their
stories to tell of what they witnessed there.  Here, we seem far removed
from such horror.  Nonetheless, the horror exists and we must work to end
it.

2.  Lactnet without Valerie McClain's posts on patents and on any other
lactation-related topic she cares to discuss would deprive this reader of
the air I breathe here.  I need the exposure to Ms. McClain's intellect,
courage, and devotion to healthy mothers and babies.  I am grateful for the
exposure to every other member who posts on this site as well.

3.  In the mid'80's, my ophthalmologist vented about a piece of
pharmaceutical marketing he had recently received in the mail.  A small but
heavy box arrived in his office with the visual presentation of making the
box look like a brick.  Upon opening the box, the doc discovered the
literature promoting the product as well as an actual brick, and hence the
weight of the box.  He ranted about the expense incurred by the
pharmaceutical manufacturer in this marketing "strategy."

Fast forward to the new millenium, when a classmate walked over to say
hello while in our university's health sciences' computer lab.  She is now
a PharmD but was then, in 2000, a PharmD student.  She was excitedly
carrying what appeared to be little stuffed animals.  As it turned out, the
students in her class had been visited by a pharmaceutical sales rep whose
presentation was in regard to whatever product the rep was pushing.  The
pharm students were given these stuffed creatures, which were, in fact,
very plush, very soft, stuffed VEGETABLES (a carrot, a stem of broccoli,
etc.), 6 to 8" tall, complete with smiling faces and logo advertising the
company's product.  This is a true story.

My present feelings regarding the patenting of various components of human
milk are always subject to change, pending further education and
enlightenment.  One of my thoughts is that the pharmaceutical companies
could truly do a World of Good in so many other ways, other than in further
amendments to their products.  If they wish to spend millions upon millions
in researching the components of human milk, I do not imagine they will
ever be able to provide any product coming anywhere near human milk in
composition due to the ever-changing nature of human milk, at least not in
our lifetimes.  Who could afford to buy such a product in this country,
much less elsewhere in the world?  I can acknowledge the necessity, when it
truly exists, of artificial infant milks.  I further acknowledge the dearth
of human milk banks.  The addition of DHA and AHA to AIM products did not
impress me.  Previous adjustments to their products by AIM manufacturers
did not impress me.

In all due respect to the members of the IBLCE board on this issue, I, too,
question the IBLCE tenet that pertains to intellectual properties in this
regard, and am grateful for Valerie's persistent, thought-provoking
statements on this topic.

4. Lastly, I must ask this question, speaking as a woman of euro-caucasian
skin color, as the biologial mother of two multicultural daughters, and as
a human being.  Fellow Lactnetters alerted us to the recent photograph on
Yahoo's website of a severely, SEVERELY malnourished 10 m/o baby from
Africa.  When is the last time any of us have seen a photograph of a euro-
caucasian infant in such a horrifying state of malnutrition?  I cannot
forget that child's face and body.

In gratitude for the collective intellect and compassion found on this site,

Debra Swank, RN BSN IBCLC RLC
Winchester, Virginia USA

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