I also am concerned with presenting pumps as a required piece of baby-care
equipment. It is true that some hospt. based clinics are forced to support
their staff by proceeds of sales of equipment.  In some cases, the decision
to do this has been the most creative way they could come up with to save
jobs and the service.  But it is sad that this is the case. Hopefully
research will someday be available which justifies the service and builds it
into the health care delivery system as a given.  Because it is dangerous
to link our profession  too closely to retail.   What concerns me is that I
have heard rumors of instances where hospt. based personel are promoting
pumps and products from their  private depots to hospt. patients.  In my
mind this would be like having a hospt. worker approach me in my bed and
sell me vitamins or whatever.  Its not that the product is bad,  and the
person may even legitimately be in need of the service, but it seems to me
to be an ethical issue.  What do others think of this practice?
Barbara

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin, Texas
Owner, Lactnews On-Line Conference Page
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html