It is always sad to see anyone or any company being duped by the formula industry into helping them market their products. The arrangement between Abbott and Lifecare can be:
- reported to the Better Business Bureau. LifeCare is in Connecticut and Abbott is in Illinois
- reported to the Federal Trade Commission as deceptive advertising
- brought to the attention of any hospital recommending this resource to patients. The Risk Management Department should be asked whether referring mothers to a deceptive resource poses a risk for patients to receive information from potentially unqualified individuals. Mothers call that line expecting an IBCLC lactation consultant but receive information from a LifeCare employee who took a one week on-line breastfeeding course. What is the hospital's liability if the information given (or not given) results in an adverse outcome? The Corporate Compliance officer should also be informed of this practice as well as upper management to see if hospitals actually understand the nature of this arrangement.
- brought to the attention of LifeCare by calling and explaining that this arrangement is deceptive and helps market a product that is in direct competition with breastmilk and breastfeeding


Breastfeeding mothers deserve real help, not to be treated as a marketing target.


Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA







 

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