The discussion on how whether to sell products from a company violating the
WHO code and how that influences a LC's income is an ethical issue called
"conflict of interest".  If you as the person recommending a product, be it
pumps, meds, etc, you have a vested interest in your client buying that
item.  That clouds your objectivity and influences you to have your client
buy the brand you are representing.
We have a nearby LC clinic which sells/rents an enormous number of pumps as
the solution to everything. There are many factors here-understaffing,
limited appointment time, affluent clientele who have seen plenty of Medela
ads... But one big difference between this clinic and others in the same HMO
(who don't have the pump solution for everything) is that their clinic is
financially supported by their pump program.  The others have pumps
available through a different department (so they are available to clients,
but the LC budget doesn't have any financial repercussions.)
Physicians in many countries are forbidden to sell drugs because of this.
http://www.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jh2928e/7.2.3.html
So while I have sympathy for the single mother who depends on pump sales or
rental to make a living, I cringe to think that one's finances determine the
products offered rather than a decision based on best practice, yet we don't
see the conflict of interest here.
Susan Lawrence, RN, IBCLC, LLLL

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome