Thursday, May 10th, 2001, in San Diego was the day the California Dental Board got “the word.” And, it wasn’t “the word” they wanted to hear. It was delivered loudly, and clearly.
The message was simple – STOP MERCURY FROM GOING INTO CALIFORNIAN’S MOUTHS – and do it right now, or face prosecution.
Opinion by Tim Bolen
Washington attorney CHARLIE BROWN (no peanuts) headed up the message delivery squad – and he eloquently described the issue, and the history of the problem. And as he said once, during his delivery, when being interrupted by the Board President (for the third or fourth time) “I need to get this on the record.”
ON THE RECORD?…
Yes – exactly – “attorney talk” – which loosely translates into street talk as “We’ve had enough of your obfuscation. Act now, or face the consequences.”
BUT CHARLIE WAS JUST THE BAND LEADER...
Charlie’s friends showed up – and boy was that impressive. Yow! And NONE of them had anything friendly to say to the Dental Board.
Speaking loudly was California’s famous CPIL (Center for Public Interest Law), the group that WRITES significant law for California. Right behind them was North American DAMS (Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome) hammering the board with facts (being recorded) about mercury toxicity.
But then, Dr. Dave Kennedy DDS hit them hardest of all. He inundated them with the facts; the studies, the peer-reviewed articles, the numbers. Dave represents the IAOMT (International Academy of Oral & Medical Toxicology). Right behind him was Tulsa based attorney Jim Love – who hammered them again – with cold, hard facts.
It went on and on..
A big SHOCK to the Dental Board came from Susan Bower, representing the California contigent of DAMS, who brought petitions from FIVE major California environmental groups, including the Sierra Club. The message to the Dental Board members was simple, forceful, and direct – “Issue the proper warnings right now or we’ll come after you. No ifs, ands or buts.”
The meeting ended, and the Board took a break. They needed it.
BUT, IT WASN’T OVER YET…
Before the “public commentary” began, the Board President read an Attorney General’s Opinion on the mercury issue, that had been delivered only an hour before. The Dental Board looked like they were IN SHOCK, hearing the AG’s words. The AG BLASTED mercury, and ordered very strong warnings…
After the meeting, in the hallways, quite a few of the Dental Board members personally approached the speakers for more information. And that was very good.
Then we went to dinner…
Tim Bolen
JuriMed – Public Relations and Research Group