Curiouser and curiouser - just got an e-mail from IBLCE on the bold and
decisive action they have taken to 'minimize' commercial influence on our
education, and quote from it here: "IBCLCs are placed in positions of
judgment and therefore should take extra steps so that commercial interests
do not compete with their professional duties to the clients they serve.
Through effective self-regulation, the "Minimizing Commercial Influence on
Education Policy" is intended to avoid most real or perceived conflicts of
interest that might unduly influence IBCLCs."

So, instead of IBLCE covering our backs, holding the bar of ethics high so
that we can use it to prevent employers from abusing the trust given us
by our users, IBCLCs have to regulate themselves.  What was wrong with the
WHO code?  Too utopian?  Or just too HARD?  Relying on it might cause
feelings of guilt in those unable to comply??   We just try to 'avoid most
real or perceived conflicts of interest that might unduly influence IBCLCs'
?  Is there any way that message could be more watered down, because I can
still almost detect a hint of awareness that conflict of interest is a
phenomenon in the real world?

I may be reading this in the worst possible light, but it appears to me
after reading the answers to the FAQs from IBLCE that it is possible for a
local organization to accept money from a formula manufacturer when they put
on a conference or a study day, as long as they disclose to those attending
that they got money from the mfr *and* the mfr has not made any
requirements about how the organization uses the money.  Whew!  Glad that's
sorted, once and for all!

If this is meant to mollify those of us with grave reservations about the
namby-pamby document they asked for comments on a couple of weeks ago, I'm
here to say it isn't working for me.

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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