>This is the note I received from the AAP today.




>Dear Colleague:
>
>Thank you for contacting the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and
>sharing your concerns about distribution of the New Mother's Guide to
>Breastfeeding. We appreciate and share your passion for the health and
>well-being of children, especially on the issue of breastfeeding.
>
>This book is part of ongoing AAP educational efforts to provide parents
>and caregivers with high-quality information on a broad spectrum of
>children's health issues. What distinguishes the New Mother's Guide to
>Breastfeeding from other reference books on this topic is that it has been
>written and extensively reviewed by pediatricians. Under the direction of
>lactation expert Joan Younger Meek, MD, MS, RD, FAAP, IBCLC, editor in
>chief, the material in this book was developed with the assistance of
>numerous reviewers and contributors from AAP technical committees and
>sections. As with all AAP educational materials and policies, there was no
>commercial involvement in the development of this book.
>
>The New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding is being distributed in a variety
>of ways such as through the AAP Publications Catalog, AAP Online
>BookStore, medical book distributors, exhibits at AAP and other
>association meetings, and through other organizations, and also is
>available in bookstores nationwide.
>
>In addition to the distribution methods described above, companies also
>purchase AAP peer-reviewed and credentialed information and distribute it
>to physicians and consumers. Ross Pediatrics has purchased a quantity of
>the New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding to use in place of a breastfeeding
>booklet they had previously developed and distributed. It is our
>understanding that these books will be distributed by health care
>professionals in hospitals and pediatric offices to new mothers. As with
>other educational materials, hospitals can decide whether or not they want
>to distribute these books. The appearance of a company's name on the cover
>of a book indicates only that the book is a free copy given by the
>company. The Ross Pediatrics name only appears on the quantity of books
>purchased by Ross Pediatrics. No formula advertisement appears in any
>copies of this book.
>
>We certainly support your commitment to breastfeeding. The AAP is
>committed to the promotion of breastfeeding via policy, educational
>materials, and ongoing medical education projects.
>
>Thank you for taking the time to write to us with your concerns.
>
>American Academy of Pediatrics
>
>
>
>
> >>> "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> 08/13/02 10:25AM >>>
>Good morning. I am writing briefly to say that I find the relationship
>between the AAP and The American Academy of Pediatrics "New Mother's Guide
>to Breast-Feeding", and Ross Labs, to be counter productive, and damaging
>to breastfeeding mothers and babies.
>
>I think that this relationship, while benefiting the AAP financially, is
>damaging and seriously undermines the credibility of the AAP. It is a
>violation of ethics. Please re-examine this issue, and reconsider this
>relationship.
>
>The AAP should not have close financial ties with companies whose products
>cause illness, and the relationship implies support and approval of this
>product.  It is unethical and immoral, in my opinion.
>
>Kathleen B. Bruce BSN IBCLC
>
>
>Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet
>Independent Consultant
>http://homepages.together.net/~kbruce/kbblact.html
>LACTNET Archives http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/lactnet.html


Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet
Independent Consultant
http://homepages.together.net/~kbruce/kbblact.html
LACTNET Archives http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/lactnet.html


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