I agree with Karen Gromada about the importance of insisting on a consent
form when using used equipment. Personally, my office does not offer used
equipment. An explanation (similar to what she mentioned) is always given
when I discuss the potential risks of using someone's else's equipment,
over and above the continuing problems that it is often:

a) too old to work as well as new material would
b) dirty
c) incomplete and/or missing parts that cannot be replaced
d) the WRONG equipment for the pumps she wishes to rent or already has
arrnaged to rent
e) etc etc (you fill in the blanks!)

By the way, if a mother insists on using used equipment, I ask her to boil
it before she brings it to my office for instruction on how to use it. This
helps get the point across about what it might harbor.



         %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
         %% "We are all faced with a series of great  %%
         %% opportunities brilliantly disguised as    %%
         %% impossible situations" - definition of a  %%
         %% lactation consulting service.             %%
         %% Kathleen G. Auerbach, PhD, IBCLC          %%
         %% [log in to unmask]   Homewood, Illinois USA %%
         %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%