Phillip Morris to Distribute “Healthy Heart and Lungs Success” Gift Packs Satire by Tess Parriott With some additions by Daven Lee
	“Healthy Heart and Lungs Success” gift packs will be handed out on the cardiac and respiratory floors. The lovely red bags will be emblazoned with the logo “Marlboro” and contain Nicorette gum to help smokers stop, free samples of cigarettes, literature from PhillipMorris on how to stop smoking, coupons for bacon, cigarettes, fast food plus a card to join the cigarette company “Healthy Heart Club.” When post-MI patients join the club they will receive a monthly newsletter with stories and articles about quitting smoking, exercise and living a healthier life as well as coupons for free and cents off of tobacco products. All material clearly states, “Breathing clean air is best, but smoking our brand is closest to breathing clean air.”
	Initially the bag was to be given to those who had decided that they would prefer to continue smoking for whatever reason, however there was some concern that those who had chosen to quit smoking would be unhappy at not receiving the gift pack. A decision was made to give the packs to all post MI patients. If patients don’t want the sample packs they can throw them out or donate them to a poor person who chooses to smoke and use the bag to carry their medications and oxygen tubing. Hospital personnel were instructed to present equal, balanced information on the advantages and disadvantages of breathing clean air vs. smoking. One health care provider stated, “We support breathing clean air, but not smoking is hard and not everyone can or wants to do it. I wouldn’t want to make them feel guilty for choosing to smoke.” Another health care provider stated, “I don’t know how to help patients stop smoking; besides, I choose to smoke and I am fine.” And still another health care provider said, “I know breathing clean air is best, but I like being able to give our patients a gift to take home.” A hospital official stated, “PhillipMorris recently gave us several million dollars to build a new, state-of-the-art cardiac unit. Giving out these gifts was just part of the package.”
	There are a number of reasons a cardiac or respiratory patient might want to smoke: · “It is more convenient to smoke.” · “When I go to the bar, I might be embarrassed to not smoke.” · “My mom and sisters couldn’t not smoke so I am sure that I won’t be able to not smoke either.” · “The last time I tried to not smoke I was so uncomfortable that I stopped after 3 days.” · “I only want to be smoke free for six weeks.” · “I plan on combining smoking and breathing clean air.” · “If smoking were that dangerous, they wouldn’t have sent these samples home with me.” · “The doctor said that my clean air was contaminated, so he said to switch to smoking.” · “The doctor said I was allergic to clean air, and suggested I start smoking.”
	If you are trying to quit smoking and would like a free sample bag, please visit our website at www.conflict-of-interest.com.
	If you don’t think that comparing smoking and tobacco marketing to formula feeding and breast milk substitute promotions, consider this: · Women who breastfeed decrease their risk of breast cancer by 4.3% for every 12 months they breastfeed. · Babies who are not breastfed are at higher risk of developing diabetes, lymphoma, asthma, allergies, diabetes, becoming obese and more. · Babies who are breastfed have a higher IQ. · When babies are breastfed, their medical costs are reduced by as much as $200/year per breastfed baby. · Families save approximately $1000 in formula and related expenses when they breastfeed.
	What if every formula product was required to display the following message: Surgeon General Warning: The use of this product may increase a mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and increase baby’s risk of sids, asthma and respiratory disease, diabetes, lymphoma and leukemia, obesity, allergies, diarrhea, ear infections, and a lower iq.
“SELLING OUT MOTHERS AND BABIES: MARKETING OF BREAST MILK SUBSTITUTES IN THE USA.” This is a new and incredible book by Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC, from the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy. NABA also has a new publication called "Executive Summary: Selling Out Mothers and Babies" which summarizes the findings from the larger book and includes a reproducible sheet of action strategies to rid our institutions of formula influence. This is heavily used as handouts to legislators, policy makers, coalitions, task forces, conferences, etc. At $1 each they are an inexpensive way to get the message out.