Oy is right. The person who heads up that mother/baby follow up clinic
should be given copies of the WHO code, the article by Diane Weissinger on
Watch Your Language, and a copy of Politics and Breastfeeding, as well as
Money Milk and Madness, and THEN a copy of Dettywyler's book.

I would suggest that the hospital ethics committee be asked about the use of
these products. Where else in the hospital are products used in this way,
and is it legal, as Marsha Walker asks, for hospital personnel to be
endorsing products?

Are nurses legally liable for any problems that should arise in case of
formula use? [ie if my baby is exposed to formula, and becomes sensitized or
ill, is the nurse who suggested it liable for damages?]

And as for the doctor who thinks that it doesn't matter .....it is certainly
easy for him to say it doesn't matter when he is probably on the receiving
end of lots of perks, etc from formula reps who regularly treat doctors and
residents to skiing trips, etc. He speaks with forked tongue, as they say.

Ethics is the word, friend. I realize that I am not offering many concrete
suggestions, but I share in your frustration, as the same thing is happening
here where I live.  When a nurse/LC [and by the way, your "LC" should not be
using that term if she is not IBCLC, and if she IS IBCLC, she should be
ASHAMED]  I know, in another state,  recently wrote an article for her
local  LC publication regarding the hospital's reuse of formula packs after
a long period of not using them, she was met with angry people/personnel
who did not want to have it pointed out publically  that they were, in fact,
falling for the same line of *&&^^% from the reps.  People hate to be called
on unethical behavior.

The reps are pushing formula in hospitals because they feel the influence of
the lactation community on their business, even if only a little.   It is a
case of the Giant being pricked by the mosquito, but it is annoying
nevertheless.  In our culture, we have a fairly unknowledgeable public,
[with some exception], and the formula people have to resort to calling
Kathlene Auerbach, or Ruth Lawrence's name in vain, in their PR Pushes.
Disgusting.

Sorry for the rant.

Kathleen
Kathleen
Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet,Corgi-L,TLC, Indep. Consultant
http://together.net/~kbruce/kbbhome.html
LACTNET Archives http://library.ummed.edu/lsv/archives/lactnet.html