For all participants of Lactnet, here is the posting of the "rules" of the road... PURPOSE OF LACTNET: For Lactation Consultants and others who assist breastfeeding mothers and their babies to share concerns, information, hints for helping mothers and the like. REMEMBER: What you write should be something that you would be willing to see printed on the front page of the New York Times. If you mention a client's or a colleague's name, please get permission from them in advance. If you wish to avoid embarassment, antagonism, legal redress, and similar unpleasantness, be careful about what you say and about whom/what! Below you will find three simple 'do's' and several 'don'ts'. We are not trying to be negative; rather, LACTNET is a small LISTSERV list with limited capabilities. If ti is misused (see don't below), we will lose our privilege of existence as a free LISTSERV. To avoid having to pay a monthly fee for its continuance, please observe the guidelines listed below. DO'S: a. share concerns about cases b. share suggestions for solving problems you have encountered that others might find useful. c. support the work efforts of other LCs and related professionals. DONT'S: a. bad mouth other LCs or other professionals, no matter how high your level of aggravation (this has legal implications for the person making the statement as well as for LACTNET and all recipients of such a message. b. talk up commercial products by brand name obtainable at a profit to those who distribute same (this is not an infomercial outlet!) c. bad mouth commercial products by brand name (this has legal implications for the person making such statements as well as for LACTNET and all recipients of such a message.) d. talk nasty about other groups than your own (once again, see above). Members of LACTNET come from all walks of life and many different affiliations. e.Scan pictures of any size...(the size of these files is prohibitively large..). Please do this through email. LARGE files such as this can bomb LACTNET and may cause us to lose our host. f. use LACTNET as a resource for mothers needing assistance. LACTNET is not for mother to mother support, it IS for LC to LC support. If you have clients who need on line assistance with breastfeeding, and you refer them to LACTNET, you risk being removed from this list. Please feel free to refer clients needing help to appropriate sources for help. Any comments or questions, please email LACTNET owners: Kathleen Bruce BSN, IBCLC [log in to unmask] Kathleen Auerbach Ph.D, IBCLC [log in to unmask]