To all,
The other day, patricia posted a letter to Lactnet which she may have meant
as a private note to someone else. Since the note referred to me, and calls
into question my integrity as a person and an LC, I, after much soul
searching, decided that it was in my best interest to respond to the 500+ of
you who read the net and presumably read that post.
patricia notes that she "heard" I had made disparaging remarks about clcs....
meaning that it isn't even first hand information she is passing along!
Secondly, instead of coming to me to clarify what she "heard", she passed
this (mis)information along to a third party (and to the Lactnet).
I have never, to my knowledge, made disparaging remarks about clcs. I have
been very upfront and open about my agreement with the stand ILCA has taken
regarding the IBLCE exam, "The International Lactation Consultant Association
(ILCA) acknowledges the IBLCE examination as the professional credential for
lactation consultants." (ILCA, 1993). The LC educational program with which
I am associated had been certifying people who successfully completed their
program up until ILCA took this particular stand. Since that time, graduates
of our program receive a diploma, rather than a certificate, and all are
strongly encouraged to take the IBLCE board exam to qualify them as
"certified." I have spoken very openly on Lactnet about the "one day
wonder" programs that "certify" people as LCs (doesn't it make you wonder
what they learn in one day?). I have also spoken very openly about people
who call themselves "certified" because they have received a certificate of
attendance from a bf program.
The profession is growing by leaps and bounds. Over 1550 people took the
IBLCE exam this year, which means that there are close to 4000 IBCLCs in the
US alone. Since anyone can call themselves a lactation consultant (the term
is not legally protected), and since there is nothing stopping anyone from
putting on an educational program (anything from 2 hours to 2 years) and
attaching a certification to it, how is the public to know which
"breastfeeding specialists" are qualified to help them? To whom should they
pay their money? There is a reason why other health professionals must
successfully complete certain educational/experience requirements prior
passing a rigorous exam before they are allowed to practice in the
profession. Lactation consultants want (and should) be treated and paid as
the professionals they are. But we must be able to demonstrate professional
credentials and qualifications first. And that may mean taking a good hard
look at what the credential is for lactation consultants. We all know
wonderful bf specialists out there to whom we would entrust our own babies &
bf problems, who, for one reason or another, have not taken the IBLCE exam.
She may have more education and more experience than someone who has taken
the exam. She may even be better than 65% of the people who have passed the
exam. But unless she has jumped through that particular hoop, she has not
demonstrated publicly that she has met or exceeded the basic qualifications
(as determined by the International Board) to become an LC. The initials
IBCLC demonstrate to the public and to your colleagues that you have passed
at least the minimum.
I apologize if I have inadvertently offended someone by these comments. It
was not intended to call anyone's integrity into question. But one cannot be
a lawyer just by calling herself an attorney. One cannot be a physician just
by calling herself a doctor. One cannot be a nurse just by calling himself a
nurse. There are requirements that must be met. Should we be doing anything
less for our profession?
Lastly, a word to patricia -- and to all of us on Lactnet:
1. If you have a question/concern about what someone did or did not say, go
directly to that person and have it clarified.
2. Reread all the posts on slander
3. Be careful that your posts are addressed appropriately BEFORE you push
the "send" button.
Jan B.
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