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Subject:
From:
Lee Galasso <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:16:17 -0500
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On Thu, 9 Nov 2006 15:52:57 -0500, Susan Burger wrote about this subject and
I was moved to comment also.

Susan, I do not know if incensed is too strong a word but that is how I felt
as I contemplated this subject; not incensed toward you, but toward what was
attributed to JoAnne Scott because of her presentation.  I was not at the
presentation but I must agree with Ellen Penchuck that that SoP would not
have come out in its final form as it did if JoAnne were still at the helm.
Under her watch there was a lot more involvement of IBCLCs in compiling a
document before it was distributed, and it would have been mailed to ALL the
IBCLCs at the same time.  I do not think that we misinterpreted the
document.  If something else was meant and it was not written so that it
could be clearly understood, then it was right for the IBCLE to remove it
from their website; however, as so many have stated, that is not enough.
Legally it is still in the public domain.  It MUST be rescinded in order to
protect us.

I also read all the statements about JoAnne's presentation and could not
help but interpret them to mean that IBCLCs have to be good team members.
Yes, I want to be a good team member.  Does that mean respectful discussion
when there is disagreement?  Does it mean having an open mind?  Does it mean
admitting that I could be wrong?  Yes, that is what it means to be part of a
healthcare team.  But why is it that the rest of the "team" members do not
have to abide by the same rules?  Why is it that I have to be subordinate to
the team leader?  Who decides who the team leader is?  Why can't we be
professional equals?  Why aren't we all team members who can respect each
other's expertise?  (That does not mean I want to prescribe or treat medical
conditions; it does not mean that I want to take over social work or
physical therapy; it does not mean that I want to do any other
professional's work.  It just means that I want to be the IBCLC on the team
- period; exclamation point.  I want to be able to provide breastfeeding
information as it relates to the other professions involved.)

It is very frustrating to hear some of my colleagues expect us to be "good
little girls" and to continue to have other healthcare professionals not
want to "listen" to a non-medical person who has important information to
share.  I have worked to gain the respect of those in the medical community.
I refuse to allow any healthcare professionals to show disrespect toward me,
to ridicule the breastfeeding-management recommendations that are accepted
practice in my profession, and to try to make me subordinate to them.  My
self-respect won't allow that; but more important, my concern for the women
and children I help will not allow it.  (I like the legal term Marsha Walker
used for that:  "fidelity" to the moms and babies).  It seems as if, even
though I did not take the oath, I am more inclined to "first do no harm"
than some of the medical professionals on the team.  I expect them to have
minimal knowledge about breastfeeding so that they do NOT cause any harm.
That is their responsibility, especially because their own professional
journals provide much of that information.  That is the LEAST they can do.

If they don't have the time to read the articles, then they should refer out
to the experts.the IBCLCs.and not give out personal opinions that contradict
research-based information.  They refer out when it comes to cardiologists,
pulmonologists, neurologists, oral development specialists, etc; they need
to learn to do it when it comes to lactation specialists.  It is interesting
to read how some physicians were quick to pick up on the SoP to use it
against the IBCLCs; they had plenty of time to learn about that.  What good
does that do their practice except to put down a profession that they refuse
to respect?  I know there are many physicians who are not like that.  I am
not referring to them; I am referring to the ones who don't care enough
about breastfeeding and are disrespectful to lactation specialists.

Respectfully submitted,

Lee Galasso, MS, IBCLC, RLC

Lactation Specialist - That is what I have always referred to myself as; and
if I lose my certification because of the SoP, that is what I will be
instead of an IBCLC.

 


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