You know the thing that gets me is that the AAP is aware of its unethical
conflict of interest relationships and yet doesn’t seem able to resolve the
problem.  Really it IS a simple fix – but the money they would lose in the
process makes it difficult to be ethical and appropriate I’m sure.  For some
of us losing the money is no big deal…for others…well we know how it works. 

 

Sam points out that we should take a look at the hospitals and clinics that
accept large sums of money, bldg wings, etc from the formula companies and
check out their BF rates – I believe that if we did a thorough study we’d
see that those who do take those ‘handouts’ have abysmal BF rates,
information and education.  Kaiser did that study years ago that showed in
no uncertain terms that if BF were properly encouraged and supported that
health care costs would GO DOWN – and yet where is that consistent
encouragement and promotion???  It hasn’t hit the country or healthcare
industry the way it should have – not at all.  Why?  Because if it did then
the pharmaceuticals and insurance companies wouldn’t be making MONEY.   And
sadly this is what it comes down to yet again – the Almighty Dollar is more
important than the lives, health and welfare of our human population.  How
sad is that?

 

Now – quite frankly, if one disagrees with someone else on Lactnet, there
are a lot nicer ways to phrase things, and perhaps if one cannot be nice and
professional, take it OFF LIST.  I, for one, resent and am offended by,
reading something that is so not nice about another Lactnetter.  Accusations
and poor personal opinions about someone do NOT have a place here, in my
opinion.  Now, I’ve only been on this list since 1995 so maybe I don’t have
much say so here but I felt the same way then as I do now.  If you don’t
have anything nice to say don’t say anything.  How I feel about the people
involved is irrelevant – but I won’t tolerate my children speaking unkindly
of another person, especially in public, why should I have to see this on
Lactnet?

 

As far as satire goes – here is my personal opinion:  Satire is FUNNY.  It
is supposed to be thought provoking. We don’t always like what satire has to
say…SO WHAT.  If you don’t like it – ignore it.  If you can’t take a joke
then I feel for you.  Attacking our own is inappropriate and unprofessional
especially on a PUBLIC listserv.  And, it lets the other side laugh at us
and laugh about infighting.  We are BETTER than that!  Quite frankly,
whether I agree with the April Fool’s Joke or not is irrelevant.  The simple
fact is that it got a response (both good and bad) and that is what satire
does.  Now, the AAP is having to deal with their behavior in a more direct
manner, they have to answer a lot of questions they may not want to answer,
and that is a GOOD thing.  We need MORE conflict and upheaval in this
arena…not less.  The AAP needs to be held accountable for its lack of
ability to deal with a serious conflict of interest.  If this gets it
started – so much the better in my opinion.

 

Now – for those who like detail oriented goodies:  Dr Gordon posted the
‘Press Release’ on 4/1/09 at 8:52am and posted his Sincere apology on 4/1/09
at 11:56 am.  A 3 hour difference.  For those who missed it here it is.  

 

“We had all been warned about the April First Virus.

 

Unfortunately, it reached into my ³fantasy folder² in the dark recesses of
my hard drive and my mind.

 

I am only grateful that it did not find the fantasy about my regressing to
infancy and the fist fight about cross nursing among Salma Hayek, Julia
Roberts, Halle Berry.  That would have been really embarrassing.

 

My sincere apologies to Dr. Tayloe and the AAP for implying that there could
possibly be a shred of truth to my ³severing ties with the formula industry²
fantasy.

 

Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP, FABM, IBCLC Emeritus

 

The revised possible/fantasy but not real press release appears below and
has nothing to do with the AAP or Dr. Tayloe.”

 

 

Sounds like a sincere apology to me…and a timely one too.

 

Lastly – can we please get over this and simply enjoy the fact that the AAP
now needs to deal with something it has been sweeping under the rug for far
too long?  When parents don’t realize that there is a serious conflict of
interest within the AAP we have a problem.  And the fact is most DON’T know
this and they are surprised to find out!  How can we or anyone believe what
the AAP says <about bf and formula> when they state that breastfeeding is
best and breastmilk is best and formula has lots of risks BUT that formula
is perfectly fine to use even with its <known and well researched> risks,
and they take lots of money from the formula companies but really
breastfeeding is best – but go ahead and use formula if you want or choose
to…  I for one find it very difficult to believe or trust anything the AAP
stands for due to this CLEAR conflict of interest.  How can I believe my Dr
who tells me smoking is bad for my health when I see him outside taking a
cigarette break?  How can I believe my Dr who tells me I need to eat a
healthy well balanced diet when I see him at McDonalds and weighing about
60lbs more than he should?  How can I believe my Dr that breastfeeding is
best when I see him handing out formula gift bags and signing moms up for
more formula freebies and giving out wrong information on BF that I KNOW
will compromise the bf and lead mom and baby straight to formula use???
Ethics people – ethics…

 

So – a joke is a joke.  Play nice in the sandbox kids…and remember that
sometimes to find that buried treasure you need to kick up a little sand.
Someone may get a little sand in their eye in the process, but in this case
the buried treasure is the health and safety of our POPULATION and that is a
treasure worth digging for.  I’ll take some sand in my eye for that one…

 

With respect to all…

 

Jaye

 

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

Breastfeeding Network

Sacramento, CA

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 


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