I think your questions are valid and perhaps a further detailed disclosure
statement from Dr. Sears would help to clarify precisely what is his
personal, professional or philosophical relationship Martek.  It might help
to repair some of the rift his recent actions have caused.

I know when I have given medical talks to other doctors at the state level, I
am required to make a disclosure statement if I have received any payment
from any drug company or if I am a member of their speaker's bureau.  I would
think that most conference organizers should make the same disclosure
requirements of speakers at meetings.  This should even apply to speakers at
Lactation meetings that for example run a pump rental station.

Most of the disclosure forms I have seen do not list owning private stock as
a requirement to be mentioned before a speech.  Many doctors own stock in
drug companies, I own stock in Pfizer and Bristol-Myers-Squib, but I sure
don't make that effect my prescribing habits of what drugs I use.  I suppose
some doctors do make that type of adjustment to their practice, but I suppose
none of them are so dumb as to admit it.

I do own stock in Martek also.  But I own this basically so I can get a copy
of the company report and see what they are up to.  I have done the same
thing with some of the tobacco stocks.  These days, you can set up an online
trading account and purchase shares for as little as 8 dollars a share and
then get all the company mailing information.

I predicted long ago that if Martek's oils ever get approved as an additive
to formula in this country we will be subjected to an advertising campaign
for formula the likes of which have not been seen before.  The company info
continually touts the added countries that have permitted the addition of the
oils to formula, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand are some of the recent
ones that come to mind.  I really think it is only a matter of time before
this happens.  It will make those of us in the BF promotion arena have to
adapt our message once again to country this anticipated slew of
advertisements.

Of course I know that BM is more than just human lactose with long chain
fatty acids.  I know that even if ABM was "exactly" like BM it would still
not be as good for the child as the way that 'nature intended' but there are
lots of ignorant people out there that already think ABM is equal to BM and
they are only going listen to the new and improved message and more deeply
hold to their erroneous beliefs.

The future addition of DHA and ARA to formula represents a "good news -- bad
news" situation.  I can't really think that it would be in the best interest
of those infants who are formula feed to not have DHA and ARA, yet the "new
and improved" message that the companies will trumpet will certainly make
some women less likely to decide to breastfeed.  Time will tell

Jon Ahrendsen, MD, FAAFP
Clarion, Iowa

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