Well, *someone* has to say it (or, type it) out loud, and it may as well be me. Flash back to Fall 2002. Joan Meek, MD, MS, RD, FAAP, IBCLC, is Editor in Chief of the AAP’s book New Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding ... and she and members of the AAP Section on BF are (rightfully) outraged when Ross Laboratories – without consulting *any* members of the AAP’s BF Section – buys up bunches of the book, slaps their logo on the front, and starts doling them out at hospitals. Lactnet flares; e-mails and letters fly; savvy lactation advocates agree: this is a gross marketing ploy by the formula company to clothe themselves with the prestige and respectability afforded by AAP and Dr. Meek. Fast forward to June 2003. Dr. Meek tells Lactnet she is speaking at several events arranged and paid for by Mead-Johnson. While some places use her preferred title of “DHA and ARA in the Infant’s Diet,” here in Philadelphia it is entitled “DHA and ARA Supplementation in Infant Formula: Implications for Infant Development.” And, she explains further, “I agree that formula marketing is a problem in this country. This talk is for educational purposes for health care professionals. [I] am not promoting the use of formula; I am educating health professionals about DHA, and what we currently know about DHA for the breastfed baby and for the formula fed baby. This talk has been set up by Mead Johnson, however, the formula company does not provide input as to the content of my presentation.” Anyone else find it ironic (even sardonic) that we see moral outrage when one formula company trades on Dr. Meek’s well-known name without her permission – while the other one can do so since they are footing the bill for dinner? And perhaps offering an honorarium? If formula marketing is a problem ... and the goal is to educate health professionals ... the higher road to take (and the one which meets the IBLCE Code of Ethics) is one where the formula company is nowhere in sight. Instead, offer the presentation to the convention planners for ABM, AAP, AAFP, ILCA, NAPNAP, HMBANA, DONA, ADA .... Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC Wyndmoor, PA, USA _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html