Well,
Here's a giggle I had today - one sorely needed.

A mom and dad just came to see me - we had had many telephone calls between us
due to her symptoms (nipple pain, unable to breastfeed, had to give formula one
night) and her inability to get in to see me due to transportation difficulties.
During all our conversations, she had asked and I had explained about our
services and charges.  As our program receives federal funds, I need to keep
tract of "patient demographics" such as age, birthplace, income, etc.  We are
able, thanks to this grant, to offer a sliding scale fee which I had explained.
The family is very poor, depending on WIC, Food Stamps, etc. as husband is
starting a business (canteen) near a soon-to-be opened factory.  Currently they
have no income.  So - the sliding scale was w-a-y d-o-w-n.  Well, they gave me
much more than the amount I had stated - and I explained to them that they
didn't need to pay so  much.  "That's OK," they said, "we sold the formula we
got from WIC to pay for your services."

OH....

Couldn't go in to the ethics of this - aren't there times when you want to scold
your kids for doing something you KNOW is wrong - but you can't do it with a
straight face???  That's how I felt...

Jeanette Panchula, BA-SW, LLLL, IBCLC, RN
Puerto Rico
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