>when I really stop and think about it.  Is there any other
>department/specialty in a hospital where a patient who leaves gets a present
>or gift?
>
>How did this precedent get set to begin with?
  It started when there was competition for the deliveries between
hospitals. In a city where I lived,  one hospital a gave a steak dinner
to new parents, the other a lobster dinner, one gave a potted plant,
another a rose ,one a blanket, one a t shirt for baby, another a t shirt
for both mom and baby.I came across some of those saftey plugs to put in
outlets and discovered a disgusting brand name on them. Has anyone
thought about making some with a breastfeeding theme on them?
  Don't use the artificial stuff as a gift for ANYONE. We all know it is
NO gift.

  Our local hospital started taking the artificial stuff out of the bags
but the sales rep found out and vetoed it. Some staff said "fine we won't
use them at all" but the "boss " people still wanted them. Why don't they
give out a bag with the hospital's own advertising on it?
  The orthopedics clinic gives out a canvas bag with their logo for you
to take your other shoe home after they put on a cast. Our auxillary
gives all the peds patients a teddy bear.

 The bottom line is these other things cost money and the artificial
stuff comes free from big bucks company.  New parents are being exploited!
.
 Mary Graden Idaho