Dear All - this is, primarily, a circulation of info for the many dentists and their staff on the NPWA eList, but is of interest to everyone who has mercury amalgam fillings (and that's most of us!). - Jane

Delivered-To: dentaltruth@knology.net

From: "Charles Brown" <brownchas@erols.com>

SANDY DUFFY and A.C.L.U. KNOCK OUT THE OREGON
 GAG RULE!!
 

 It's the beginning of the end of the
ADA 
"AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION"

gag rule.

 
 
 

     

 It's the beginning of the end of the
ADA 
"AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION"

gag rule.

Portland lawyer Sandra Duffy, Oregon director for Consumers for Dental Choice, recognized that the Oregon dental board policy of enforcing the 

ADA gag rule on dentists
criticizing mercury fillings violates the free speech rights of dentists.  
 

 

Accordingly, in December, she enlisted the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the nation's champion on the First Amendment, to battle the policy.


The ACLU, through Portland lawyers Michael Simon and Julia Markley working pro bono, wrote a letter to the Attorney General of Oregon in February saying the dental board had 30 days to rescind its policy adopted back in 1990.
(In that year, the Oregon dental board
adopted the ADA policy
aimed at gagging dentists
from telling patients
and the public
about the health effects
of mercury fillings -
known, deceptively, as "silver" amalgam).
 

The board maintained that policy despite the huge body of science showing the  A D A  to be wrong.)

The office of Attorney General Hardy Myers responded promptly, getting the matter on the Board agenda on March 8.   Immediately, Mary Ann Newell organized a large number of consumers and health practitioners to attend, and Sandy put together a presentation to make to the dental board.  On that date, the state's largest newspaper,
the Oregonian, ran a front-page story about the dental board denying dentists their free speech rights.

   The board, used to having its meetings with only

dental lobbyists present,

was astounded to see 40 people in its tiny meeting room,

told Sandy Duffy no one could speak.

She, of course, insisted that everyone have her or his say.

 

The board ­ faced with an aware press, legal advice against them, and an aroused citizenry ­ repealed the ADA gag rule.

Since that meeting, Sandy Duffy and I have met with Jann Carson, assistant executive director of the ACLU, about pushing this issue with ACLU chapters around the nation.  We commend the ACLU ­-  remember, a champion of civil liberties for ALL of us.

The ADA gag rule is on its way to the dustbins of history.
It is gone in California,
after our yearlong battle out there led by Anita Tibau.
 
It is now gone in Oregon. 

 It failed to re-start in Florida, thanks to Julie Hilton and B.J. West.    And it has no leg to stand on anywhere . 

Any dental board who tries to enforce it is violating the First Amendment! 


I urge dentists to start talking about

 "mercury amalgam" <<<

( -usually called "Silver Filings"

to patients who do not know or correct their Dentist..ed gn.)
 
 ­ the scientific studies, the manufacturer warnings, the Health Canada report,

 the fact that it's not silver,

 the vapors emanating continually to children's brain.

  We need you to advise, advocate, and advertise the truth.

  And now, thanks to Sandy Duffy and the ACLU, it's increasingly

 clear you have the United States Constitution on your side!

 

Charlie Brown

March 12, 2002

(please circulate)

 

NEXT we get the Fluoridation Gag Order Exposed and Removed too!