Poll about formula samples in hospitals
Mon, 2007-07-09 14:29
I'll just put it back, then:
The question, plain and simple: Do you think it is ethical on the part of either the hospitals or the formula companies to give out formula samples to every new mother in the hospital?
Keep in mind that these samples are not given only when necessary, but are given to ALL moms as a marketing tactic, and the hospitals receive money for giving out the sample bags. This question is not about formula-feeding information given by nurses/doctors in hospitals nor does it include samples of formula that are provided through the mail to moms who request them. This question does not include the formula included in the hospital's own supplies for use when medically needed (say, in a baby whose mother died during delivery).
***** Do you think it is ethical on the part of either the hospitals or the formula companies to give out formula samples to every new mother in the hospital?*****
Mon, 2007-07-09 18:17
#2
Poll about formula samples in hospitals
I feel it is very unethical!!!!! - the formula/pharmacudical companies are very good at marketing products that are not really healthy but that are quick solutions and for their customers/potential customers and makes them BIG time money. They know well how much advertising influences us or they would not be using it so much. I understand that it is very difficult for many Dr.'s and hospitals to turn away formula/ to refuse to distribute it b.c. the hospitals recieve lots of "gifts" for marketing for them...such as paid trips, huge parties, donations.... It is so political. I think it is very sad that getting rich is at the cost of baby's health! That is what it comes down too! And for a hospital to market a product that the research has so so clearly demonstrated the costs/detriments to baby's health..... how could it not be unethical!!! A hospital in my area just banned smoking in or around their hospital by both patients and staff. Isn't this a similar issue!!! Hello!!!
Mon, 2007-07-09 20:48
#3
Poll about formula samples in hospitals
Unethical.
I worked for years for a pharmaceutical company in their training department, and I know exactly what shady dealings are done to get products into consumers hands whether they want them or not.
Formula companies are no different when dealing with hospitals.
This is about the bottom line and nothing else. Use whatever flowery language you want to make this sound like it's about choice and freedom.
The American public has very little freedom when it comes to their healthcare choices, and good healthcare and sound advice without the dollar signs is very hard to find and getting harder. Say it's about choice all you want - it's about selling women an inferior product and gussying it up with feminist catch phrases. But people buy it, hook, line and sinker.
This petition is bad, bad, bad and the handing out samples of formula is nothing more than a commercial you're paying for with your insurance premiums at the expense of many.
But TIA...This Is America. All Hail Commercialism and The Spin.
Tue, 2007-07-10 00:17
#4
Poll about formula samples in hospitals
Unethical.
I don't like the formula industry's tactics, but I actually don't judge them as harshly as I do the hospitals. Corporations exist to make money; that's the logic of capitalism. Hospitals and health-care professionals have a moral responsibility to serve the public good first and foremost -- you know, the Hippocratic oath, "Do no harm," etc etc. Hospitals taking corporate money to market infant formula in ways that have been shown definitively to risk the health of babies and mothers -- it violates the healthcare profession's own mandate.
But yeah, for the formula companies too -- it's unethical.
Hey Erin -- if you see this post before the thread gets censored again ... or before we both get booted off altogether, LOL ... e-mail me or something, okay? I can't contact you, but you can e-mail me through my profile.
Tue, 2007-07-10 00:19
#5
Poll about formula samples in hospitals
libbylu wrote:
I worked for years for a pharmaceutical company in their training department, and I know exactly what shady dealings are done to get products into consumers hands whether they want them or not.
Formula companies are no different when dealing with hospitals.
Excellent post, libbylu. I've wondered for a long time what the impact of a whistle-blower from inside a big-name formula company might have on this issue. There MUST be someone out there who knows first-hand the way this game works, and who is having trouble sleeping at night...
Tue, 2007-07-10 13:58
#7
Poll about formula samples in hospitals
songbh wrote:
I don't like the formula industry's tactics, but I actually don't judge them as harshly as I do the hospitals. Corporations exist to make money; that's the logic of capitalism. Hospitals and health-care professionals have a moral responsibility to serve the public good first and foremost
Very good point. It is the hospitals' responsibility to say, "NO!"
Sat, 2010-02-20 23:14
#8
Poll about formula samples in hospitals
My dad is an rn at a hospital and its really not the hospitals fault. Most of the formula companies give lots of funding to nurseries, nicu, and L&D. If the hospitals don't pass out these samples, they could lose lots of funding which means a less likely chance of getting the equipment they need.
Sat, 2010-05-08 06:31
#9
Poll about formula samples in hospitals
great work nyc comments
denny
work at home on the internet
I don't think it's ethical at all.
Apparently neither does Canada, because ALL I got when I had my son was tons and tons of breastfeeding information. And access 24/7 to a breastfeeding lounge in the hospital for the rest of my nursing relationship.
Oops, edited to say:
If I had asked about formula, I would have been given information about it but I stated on my form when I registered at the hospital that I wanted to exclusively nurse. It's not like they were withholding the information from everyone!