The panel that sets public health policy in Massachusetts today put on hold a ban against the distribution of gift bags containing infant formula that are routinely distributed to new mothers in hospital maternity wards.
Governor Mitt Romney, who said he believes mothers should have a choice over how to feed their infants, had asked the Public Health Council to repeal the prohibition, which was set to go into effect in July. The panel voted unanimously to suspend its December approval of the ban while directing public health authorities to further review the proposal and report back in three months.
The board's action assures that the controversy over the gift-bag ban will remain alive at least until May, with proponents of breast-feeding and formula makers preparing for further battle.
Advocates of the prohibition maintain that formula giveaways discourage mothers from breast-feeding. Medical studies have shown that breast-fed children are less likely to suffer respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments, and that women who nurse have lower rates of breast and ovarian cancer.
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The Republican governor also described the prohibition as an example of government intrusion into private lives.
"I guess I'm not enthusiastic about the heavy arm of government coming in and saying: We think we know better than the mothers and we are going to decide for you," Romney said. "Let's let the moms decide."
Excuse me while I laugh hysterically over Governor Romney's assessment of the situation.
The fact of the matter is that this issue has nothing to do with choice. Nothing. Mothers can choose to formula feed or breastfeed.
What this prohibition does is prevent commercial interests from being presented as medically endorsed. The only heavy arm in this scenario is that of the formula industry. Those bags aren't free, folks. There's nothing free about them.
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