LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
"Susan E. Burger" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 3 Jul 2004 08:31:27 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (54 lines)
Dear all:

The issue of asthma and breastfeeding has particular poignancy for me
because that is how I learned to read the literature very carefully. When I
was first beginning my doctorate, the unspoken rule was that you MUST do
well on your presentation of an article in front of all the other graduate
students and your committee members.  This was a terrifying experience
where you were in a big auditorium, your fellow graduate students rated
your presentation anonymously (all were required to attend) and your
professors grilled your critique of the article unmercifully.  This was one
of the very few requirements of the PhD and unofficially we knew that this
was how they decided you were worth the effort or not. I felt as nauseous
for the first of these presentations as I did for my final defense.

We all watched cringing as the poor person presenting the article on
breastfeeding and asthma was verbally ripped to shreds by my major advisor
because he had made the same assumption as the authors of the article -
that OF COURSE breastfeeding would have a positive effect on asthma.
There, clearly indicated in the screen for all to see was the author's
table that showed exactly the opposite.  At the time, the discussion
centered on the fact that breastfeeding mothers were far more attentive
with all that skin to skin contact and must be noticing the asthma much
sooner than the formula feeding moms.

So, I have never forgotten the terror of that poor person in his moment of
humiliation in front of the rest of us and ALWAYS check the numbers in the
table because even authors and reviewers can get it wrong.

My true confession is that, while working for a nonprofit organization, I
discovered in the files the raw data from research that was later published
on vitamin A and respiratory disease.  It was very clear from this raw data
that the person had switched the results for the final article - either
intentionally or unintentionally.  By then, there was plenty of research
published by many others and I never knew whether I should have brought
those files to light --- I wasn't sure whether the files themselves may
have been in error.  Too late now for sure, because all those files were
burned to a crisp on 9/11 when a fireball from the plane blew through the
2nd floor of the building across the street from the South Tower where I
used to work.

Best, Susan Burger, MHS, PhD, IBCLC

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

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

ATOM RSS1 RSS2