Dear LACTNUTS--
I'm on another pediatric list, Pedtalk.  One of the Indian physicians recently
posted that the Indian medical association has voted to not accept funds,
etc., from the formula companies & that they were officially strongly pro-
breastfeeding.
I posted that I would love to see the day come when there was NO sign of any
formula company advertising at a national AAP meeting.  Interestingly enough,
I received a few sort-of "flames" from pediatricians who lauded the formula
companies for their research into specialized formulas and their support of
"educational" materials for patients.
While I will freely admit that for babies with metabolic disease, specialized
formulas have their place and that there is a role for formula when, for
whatever reason, a baby isn't or cannot be breastfed, the replies do show that
most of the pediatricians in the USA have very favorable views of formula
companies.  I suspect the medical community here does not realize the extent
of the deal-making and influence that goes one.
We have a long way to go before the US medical establishment gets to the level
of the Indian medical association . . .
Linda L. Shaw MD FAAP