Can we report them?

[AutumnAir]

I've just gotten so frustrated with all the bad BFing advice I've been given by medical types, who should either know better or keep their mouths shut. And every day I read about other women who've had ridiculous advice doled out to them by doctors, nurses, pediatricians and even LCs. Surely there must be something we can do about it.
There must be some control over these people. Can we, for example, report to the AAP a pediatrician who gives advice contravening the AAP's recommendations. Can we report them all to the WHO? It's just incredibly frustrating to me that so many BFing relationships are damaged or destroyed every day as the result of parents trusting and believing a medical professional to be knowledgeable about BFing and to give good sound evidence-based advice.
Help. What can we do?

[Mama~Love]

I don't know that reporting it would do any good, but one can hope. I, too, get frustrated by what is told to moms everyday, contradictory advice that is so detrimental to the breastfeeding relationship. I'm sure many nursing relationships have been ruined by such nonsense.

But you are right, this needs to stop!

[tree-hugger]

our cultural wisdom on all aspects of breastfeeding seems to be woefully insufficient, and it sure does seem hard to get it back.

[SallyN]

ugh. I don't have a solution yet, but wanted to tell you, I feel the SAME way!!

[MeepyCat]

If it makes you feel any better, I read a report in MMWR (the CDC's weekly publication to health professionals) which basically said exactly that - that hospitals are not practicing evidence-based medicine in this area, and that many hospital policies are detrimental to breastfeeding. (Article is here.)

I don't know what we can do. I suspect the CDC doesn't know either. I wish I had a solution. I don't think that reporting people to WHO is it, and my suspicion is that the AAP is a professional organization, not a supervisory one. I feel like a better idea would be to sidestep - to find some way to make the information available even if women don't look for it, to replace the pediatrician as the default source of information on how to breastfeed. If the breastfeeding rates are going to increase, we can't simply rely on new mothers to seek out support. We have to find some way to get it to them.

[MaryJaneLouise]

In the US, all licensed health professionals are reportable to their state board. For example, MDs and DOs have something like a state board of healing arts, RNs have board of nursing, etc.

It is a good idea for the affected party to write down what exactly happened, then send in a report to the state board. Second and third hand reports are less useful.

I can just about guarantee you no action will come about as a result of poor infant feeding advice. However, if that MD/DO is sued, all those complaints are admissible in court, and it could make the physician look bad if there is a systematic pattern of ignoring AAP advice.

You can also file a complaint about an IBCLC at:

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/report_card2.htm

[elizaMM]

This is great. We need a one-stop shop for official recommendations of agencies and ways to report people. Although ratting people out isn't the best way to affect change, its A way.

Is there a website that we could ask to host this information? We could put it all in a mothering thread, I know, but a real page (or many) would be better.

I really feel like we need to get cranking on this stuff. Are there any organizations that are lobbying legislatures (state or federal) for improvements in policies?

[mom2anangel]

Check out First Right. It is a new grass roots organization that has three committees they are the Legislative Action Committee, the Breastfeeding Education Committee and a Breastfeeding Discrimination Task Force. It sounds tome like they might be able to help with what you need. Good luck!

[MaryJaneLouise]

I did have another idea. If a nurse is a hospital employee, and you know her name / unit / badge number, reporting her to the Chief Nursing Officer is an option. If the LC is a hospital employee, there should be a chief of lactation services.

Physicians usually have admitting privileges to local hospital(s). You should call their office to see which hospital(s) they are affiliated with. Then you could write a letter of complaint to the Medical Staff Office, along with AAP recommendations that your physician has contradicted. If enough people did this, it might make a difference .

[hipmummy]

I too am at witts end with this. I received a CLC cal the oher day that just floored me. The motehr was told that her baby was not gaining (it was) and she did not have enough milk (she does) and that she was not getting enough at each feeding (after a weigh in) They totally lied to this poor mama and told her baby had a serious medical condition and that they had to supplement with formula or her baby would die. I am hearing this more and more and I have had it. I have yet to meet one ped in my area that has a clue about BFing. It is so sad. I have had and I am going to start writing letters and filing complaints agianst these DR.'s. Personally I think they all should have to attend at least two LLL meeting a year if not one a quarter.

[red17]

I too am frustrated at the lack of knowledge that is out there. Couple that with the outrageously biased toward formula health professionals passing out their "free" samples and I'm ready to :Puke .

I'm not sure how to go about this, but how about getting major health insurance companies on board with making LC's available to new moms as part of the normal routine. It could be one way to help struggling 1st time moms start bfing. If a mom gets help at the hospital, I'd think it would be more likely for a mom to start bfing if they were given help to do so instead of shoving a formula bottle at them at every turn!:

Companies who embrace no smoking policies and programs get credits on their insurance policies. There must be a way to bottom line the benefits that bfing brings to both mom and child in a way that Health insurance companies would strongly support. Afterall, it's the insurance company that pays the majority of the dr's fee in an HMO/PPO .

I know I've read things about how bfing is beneficial for both parties.... like less chance of developing diabetes (for both right??) and breast cancer for the mom; children who bf for a year(??) have a better chance of not becoming obese... All these things and others that I can't think of have a bottom line that benefits the insurance company in the long run. I know not everyone is covered by Health Insurance, but it's one way to start the ball rolling.

[Janice in Canada]

Here is Canada, one can report their doctor to the licensing board.

Here is what I wrote up for an advocacy newsletter I wrote a few years ago. Much of the wording is DIRECTLY quoting from the website, so is not MY interpretation of things.

File a complaint. As a patient, you may sometimes be dissatisfied with the service, attitude, or conduct of your doctor. You should feel that you can talk to your doctor about these matters in an open, honest manner. You are encouraged to do so as a means of resolving conflict, helping your physician to understand your concerns and, hopefully, enhancing your satisfaction with future medical care. However, if a problem or misunderstanding arises between you and your physician that cannot be resolved, you can file a complaint with the licensing and governing body for physicians in your state or province. In the province of Saskatchewan, it is the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The College takes your complaint seriously and will investigate it. All information is kept confidential. There is no time limit on filing a complaint. If you decide to proceed with a formal complaint, the College can also assist you in understanding the complaint process and advise you on what information to include in your letter of complaint. If you’re not sure whether you have the basis for a complaint and would like to speak to someone, call the College toll-free at 1-800-667-1668.
You can view and fill out a COMPLAINT REPORTING FORM at http://www.quadrant.net/cpss/complaints/index.html

[Janice in Canada]

I also like to refer to these:

http://policybase.cma.ca/PolicyPDF/PD04-06.pdf


THE CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CODE OF ETHICS
The Code applies to physicians, including residents, and medical students. (selected points):
General Responsibilities:
4. Practise the art and science of medicine competently and without impairment.
5. Engage in lifelong learning to maintain and improve your professional knowledge, skills and attitudes.
6. Recognize your limitations and the competence of others, and, when indicated, recommend that additional opinions and services be sought.
Communication, Decision-Making, and Consent
12. Provide your patients with the information they need to make informed decisions about their medical care, and answer their questions to the best of your ability.
Responsibilities to Society
33. Refuse to participate in or support practices that violate basic human rights.
Responsibilities to the Profession
40. Avoid promoting, as a member of the medical profession, any service (except your own) or product for personal gain.
42. Collaborate with other physicians and health professionals in the care of patients and the functioning and improvement of health services.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Janice, that is awesome. Do you know what happens when a complaint is filed? I know from personal experience that my state's board of healing arts is full of BS. My (former) dr. missed my cancer diagnosis, twice, over a 6 month period. I later checked into the diagnostic guidelines for women my age and she did NOT follow them. I filed a complaint and just got a form letter a few weeks later that "they had looked into the matter and there was nothing to be done" .