Pat Sullivan Blog

Mercury and Vaccines

Here is a good and balanced view of the controversy over mercury, vaccines and autism.  Personally, I agree with his view in general.  Also, his view as a research neuroscientist that even small amounts of toxins can cause the brain to not function well is right on. 

Another thing I think important is to spread out the vaccination schedule for the child.  We used to vaccinate on a much slower schedule.  The rise in autism appears to coincide with an acceleration in that schedule beginning around 1991.  Challenging a childs immune system with so many vaccinations when their immune system (and most other systems) are not yet fully developed does not seem wise.  Here is a more user friendly recommended schedule from a doctor Miller.

"Dramatic hearing on Capitol Hill: Members of Congress demand to know why FDA refuses to do Environmental Impact Statement"

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

In my inbox from Charlie Brown of Consumers for Dental Choice:

Dramatic hearing on Capitol Hill:  Members of Congress demand to know why FDA refuses to do Environmental Impact Statement

FDA was called to the carpet at a dramatic hearing on Capitol Hill on Nov. 14.  Chairman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Congressman Dan Burton (R-Ind.), and Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-Calif.) took turns insisting that FDA comply with the law by doing an Environmental Impact Statement on mercury amalgam.  A second panel of witnesses included mercury environmental expert Michael Bender, who quantified the colossal damage wrought by dental mercury on the environment, and National Environmental Policy Act expert Ray Clark, who explained why, without a doubt, FDA must do an environmental assessment of dental mercury.

Heavy Metal Mercury...Literally

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

In my inbox from Scott Shoemaker comes hardcore band bloodsimple's SUPER SICKO video:

That just gave me chills. 

I've never been a true metalhead, but I have enjoyed my fair share of it.  (In fact, 12 years ago I was at a metal show in Ft. Worth, TX where a piece of actual metal flew off the stage and bounced off my head.  It was awesomely ironic.)

UPDATE: I've never been a huge fan of "screamo" -- which is what this is called, for the older generation (ie. Dad) -- because you can't understand ANYTHING.  However, I do think I picked up a "1 IN 5 HAUNTED!!!!!!!!!!!!" in there.

Illness disappears by removing 14 mercury amalgams

This was left as a comment on our post regarding mercury.  I know it is a study of one person.  Rather - yet another person.  It is anecdotal evidence for those of us who have been chronically ill for a long time and that illness has resisted a quick fix.  And on top of that you have a mouthful of mercury in your mouth. 

It appears that everyone is not affected by mercury the same way.  Some seem to tolerate it pretty well.  At least it appears that way to them.  But others are affected severely and when they have their amalgams removed, numerous maladies simply disappear. Certainly helped me.  I post it unchanged as something to consider:

Comment:
I was extremely ill with depression and anxiety and fully recovered just after removing my 14 amalgams. I was better within the next 2-3 days and havnt had serious mood swings since. I think the mercury messes with your hormones and blood sugar and thyroid status adn cant be proven but you need to do what is right for you.

• Commenter name: James Leech

"Wall Street turns thumbs down to mercury fillings"

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

More bad news for the future of mercury amalgams.  (Which is good news for me, and anyone else against polluting the environment, harming humans, etc.)

A stunning report by Bank of America Securities advises that dental products company Dentsply, the #2 manufacturer of mercury fillings, realign its operations to sell only the resin and other filling materials.

"3 Strikes – NIH’s Chief DDS, Lawrence Tabak, Should Be Out"

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

More strong words in my inbox from Charlie Brown of Consumers for Dental Choice.

3 Strikes – NIH’s Chief DDS, Lawrence Tabak, Should Be Out

A major ruling by the U.S. Office of Human Research Protections shows the moral bankruptcy of the National Institute for Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and its Director, Dr. Lawrence Tabak.  NIDCR is the dental arm of the National Institutes of Health, and has (wrongly) been given the authority to dole out millions of dollars to its mercury fillings allies to do “independent” research.  Organized dentistry’s corruption of the science on mercury fillings is so endemic that its master strategist, NIDCR Director Tabak, should be fired.  We ask you join us by writing his boss, NIH Director Elias Zerhouni.

Jigsaw Health Foundation Closes Its Doors

18 months ago I started Jigsaw Health Foundation. It's purpose was to help people who could not afford to have their mercury amalgams removed.  That was an important step in my own health recovery.  I wanted to help those who could not afford it.

We just put the Foundation into hibernation perhaps to resurrect in the future.  The primary reason?  Money.  We found money was hard to raise in general.  Many are just burned out with all the causes competing for money, myself included. 

On top of that, my daughter, Colleen Skipper who ran it, got burned out working alone in her house in Seattle.  She is a very social person and missed the camaraderie of an office with people.  She really was the heart and soul of the Foundation.  I did not feel we would be able to replace her easily.

The good news is that we were able to help about 4 dozen people.  Several of them found that removing this highly toxic metal from their mouths was life changing.  We sent an email to them and other applicants.  Following are a few of their comments.  It gave me goosebumps when I read them:

"I am sure you will get tons of emails, but I wanted to thank you for your kind words and assistance during my pre-removal days. Even though I did not use your services, I do believe in the dangers of mercury. I had my amalgams out in May and June of this year, 2007. I know it was the best decision I have ever made in my life. You played a role in that turn of my life and I thank you."

"You have not only helped those that you could, but gave us all the security of knowing there are many of us out there who have been united in hope that someone has cared and focused in on the problem, and we ourselves, can continue to make a big noise about it."

"I am so sorry to hear that you are closing. I feel so lucky to be one of the few who was chosen. Replacing my amalgams helped me so much!!! I hope to hear that you are back in business in the future."

"I am deeply sadden to read that JHF has closed. Each and every day I'm mindful of how JHF, along with Dr. Noelck, led me on the magnificent journey to regain my health. When all hope was gone, JHF was there to help save my life. Yes, I said save my life--there is no doubt in my mind that my body could not have endured much more. I was at the end of my rope and could not have held on much longer. Finding JHF on the internet, applying for assistance, and becoming a beneficiary was my Miracle! I'm living proof that the mission is on target by addressing the serious danger of mercury amalgams. At times, I find it difficult to recall just how sick I was at the time of my application. It seems like a TERRIBLE nightmare...one I don't want to remember, yet I don't want to forget. My personal crusade to is inform others of the danger of mercury amalgams. Since the final removal, I've been getting stronger every day. In fact, I will start a part time position on September 29th!! It was great to answer "no" to so many of the questions at the time of my medical exam. I'm still placing orders at Jigsaw Health."

"I am grateful for your work and efforts to help many of us who would not otherwise have gotten treatment. I am doing much better than a year ago when my cancer returned to the spine and I had surgery. I feel improved and want to thank you again for your help in this matter."

"You have changed the lives of 47 people in two years. How many people can say they have done that in their lifetime?"

"I had to write to tell you what a fantastic job Christian did in the opera premiere this summer in Italy. It was a complete miracle. A total transformation. Now he is home performing in his brother Bernard's new play, Receiving Me, which will play at The Fringe Festival from September 13 through 16th. This never would have been possible without the help that he received from Jigsaw. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

"I had planned on emailing you soon to tell you that I have very recently felt a big shift in my health, and I believe it is in large part due to having my amalgams removed a few months ago!!!! You have make a really huge impact in my life, for health reasons as well as feeling such generosity from people who dont even know me! What you do is truly special, and I know the others like me that you have helped probably feel the same."

"I think it is wonderful that you helped so many people. You did a GREAT job in my opinion."

"Kathleen's life continues to be complicated, yet I know what the foundation did for her has improved and ultimately has added time to her live, revitalized her ability for improvement in her mental clarity and has enriched her children's experience with their Mommy! So thankful we are!"

"Never forget how much good you have done, are doing, and will do. You probably have inspired others to do good (that you do not even know about)"

"You are to be commended for all your efforts."

"All I can say, myself, is thank you for helping me get my life back, and, I'd help more if I could."

"I am most sadden to hear of your organization fate. I was unable to get my mercury amalgams removed. However, I hope in the future I will be able to have them removed. Thank you for all the information and effort that your organization have provided me. I will pray that you will make a stronger comeback in the future."

"As you may recall, I have been looking to join or purchase a mercury-safe practice. I am looking at an office I may purchase soon. So for me, the timing has been poor. I do, however, help to educate as many people as I can, and hope to help more in the future. So please do not feel that your efforts are for naught-it has been a noble endeavor that you should be proud of. I have referred several patients to your website and recommended the book you had given me at The IAOMT meeting."

"YOU DEFINITELY HELPED ME... NOT FINANCIALLY BUT WITH SUPPORT..."

"I am so very grateful for all you have done for me. You have made a huge difference in my life and in the life of my family."

"I was disappointed to hear of the closing. I have finally made improvement in my health and energy and am feeling much better! Thank you so much for the help with paying for the amalgam removals. I was planning on making a contribution to Jigsaw Health when my finances improved. (still a long way off). How am I going to reciprocate the foundations generosity if you're closing???; You really did help me. I have Asperger's Syndrome and had not worked in a long time and didn't have the money to have the amalgams removed all by myself. Do you remember how sick I was? To write you an email would take hours because I had to lay down and rest every few sentences! I want you to know that you made a difference in my life. Last time we talked I was still very mercury toxic. I will always have Aspergers and all the symptoms but at least I don't have the additive oppressive effects of the mercury on top of that. :) "

ADA shows signs they know a ban on mercury amalgams is imminent

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

In my inbox from Charlie Brown of Consumers for Dental Choice:

Dr. Randall Lutter, Deputy Commissioner
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20847 (via e-mail and regular mail)

Re:  ADA conceding limits or ban coming … please issue ANPR expeditiously.

Dear Deputy Commissioner Lutter,

A consensus is growing among the former heavyweight advocate for mercury fillings, the American Dental Association, that FDA will put limits on amalgam use for pregnant women, children, and hypersensitive adults – or perhaps even ban them entirely.  Earlier, I wrote you that the A.D.A. so warned its members on July 1.  Since then, two more signs have emerged. 

1) In the July edition of Dental Practice Report, the long-time general counsel of the A.D.A., Peter Sfikas (who stepped down eight months ago) advised dentists that FDA would likely contraindicate amalgam to classes of patients, and dentists must begin immediately protect their legal position by (1) asking patients if have mercury hypersensitivity, and (2) giving precise warnings about mercury exposure to pregnant women and parents of young children.   

2) Last week, the A.D.A. released a report by its handpicked consultant regarding the economic impact of a ban – the step virtually any industry takes when faced with a ban on a favored product or product component.  When an industry pays for a study saying a product ban will hurt the public, we all know what they really mean: it will adversely affect the pocketbook of the industry.  Mercury fillings are still in vogue because they are so quick and easy to place by assembly-line and old-fashioned dentists, not because of any patient demand.

Bush Breaks Campaign Promise

I have said here a few times that I have been disappointed in Bush. He has managed to pretty well piss everyone off at some point.   In my opinion, this one is a big screw up.

He said when running for his 2nd term that he was against using mercury in vaccines. 

"I support the removal of Thimerosal from vaccines on the childhood national vaccine schedule. During a second term as President, I will continue to support increased funding to support a wide variety of research initiatives aimed at seeking definitive causes and/or triggers of autism. It is important to note that while there are many possible theories about causes or triggers of autism, no one material has been definitely included or excluded."

Now he plans to veto a bill specifically because it would have eliminated the use of mercury in flu vaccines. I have written often that we should eliminate the use of mercury in any medical or dental procedure.  It just makes no sense to use such an incredibly toxic heavy metal, especially when we inject it into babies whose brains are still developing.  I imagine it would be a "hardship" on big pharma.  I am sure they have millions of vaccines on the shelf that contain this neurotoxin.  They have no qualms about using it on babies etc.

I hate it when politicians don't do what they say they will do.  This is shameful!

"52% of Dentists no longer place Mercury Amalgams", Jigsaw Health Foundation Newsletter

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

In my inbox from Colleen Skipper, the Executive Director of the Jigsaw Health Foundation:

Dear Friends of Jigsaw Health Foundation,

Summer is here!  I hope you all are enjoying the warmer weather and longer days.  I know I am!

In this edition:

• Beneficiary Updates
• Dentists Split Over Amalgam
• Dental Workers File Claims in Norway
• FDA Abandons Pro-Mercury Fillings Policy

We are very happy that our beneficiaries continue to make improvements.  We will be adding to our list of beneficiaries in July and will have more to report soon.

Read the latest newsletter (pdf).

FDA Abandons Pro-Mercury Fillings Policy--To Propose New Rule

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Wow!!  Can you say, "Progress!"  This is great news!!  In short, the FDA has agreed to leave the ADA high and dry.  Here's the rest from Charlie Brown, the National Counsel at Consumers for Dental Choice, of which I am a board member.

FDA Abandons Pro-Mercury Fillings Policy -- Will Propose New Rule

An intense set of interactions with FDA since the Court of Appeals opinion on April 13 has borne fruit.  On April 19, we advised FDA of liability exposure of key staff, then on May 2 notified FDA lawyers that we had the papers prepared to file another lawsuit unless FDA wanted to meet.  On May 10, top FDA officials met with food and drug law expert Jim Turner and me; we gave FDA a month to change course -- else we would return to court.

FDA responded -- favorably.  Hemmed in by its own scientific panel, facing another lawsuit from us, challenged by an increasingly aroused public, and unable to justify a policy that this mercury is somehow different from the mercury in medicines for dogs or fish for humans, FDA changed course.  On June 14, FDA’s lawyer notified me, by phone and in writing (e-mail is below) that FDA will write an entirely new regulation on mercury fillings. It is the harbinger of hope we may have been seeking from this powerful agency.

Here’s what it means: 

  1) The great news:  FDA abandons its policy (expressed in its proposed regulation of 2002) to write into law a sleazy special-interest rule prohibiting warnings, covering up the existence of mercury, and maintaining mercury exposure’s side effect is “allergies.”  After a five-year battle, we broke the A.D.A.’s stranglehold over FDA policy.

  2) The bad news:  Today, and tomorrow, the ugly status quo remains.  Dentists deceive parents by calling the fillings silver.  Toxic mercury fillings are still the choice of the assembly-line dentists working on our soldiers, our youth, our minorities, and our working poor.  FDA gives no timetable to propose its new regulation.

  3) The mystery:  With an in-house fight apparently going on between FDA reformers and FDA’s mercury protectors, the result is not predictable.  But at last, top officials are listening to our side -- Professor Boyd Haley, Dr. Rich Fischer, and Dr. Mike Fleming met June 22 with FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Science.  I have written FDA six questions about legally required steps.

We haven’t won – far from it.  But truly, the A.D.A. has lost.  FDA is no longer dancing to its tune.  The issue of mercury toxicity from amalgam will be the subject of a great national debate -- the news the A.D.A. and the pro-mercury dentists have long dreaded.

Let me not sugar-coat it: a major battle lies ahead as FDA determines its policy, and perhaps at FDA’s typical glacial speed.   We must vigilantly advocate our cause -- inside the agency, before the public, and if necessary back to the courts.  I welcome your views about our next step.  Grassroots activism by consumers, and speaking out by dentists and other health professionals, is more important than ever. 

Charlie Brown
24 June 2007

PS--Check our website, www.toxicteeth.org, for updates on FDA.

Charles G. Brown, National Counsel
Consumers for Dental Choice

NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS as of 6/27/07:
316 F St., N.E., Suite 212
Washington, DC 20002
ph 202.246-7642

E-mail from FDA’s lawyer to [Charles] Brown

From: Vicente, Wendy [mailto:Wendy.Vicente@fda.hhs.gov]
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 2:09 PM
To: Charlie Brown
Subject: RE: Legal and Policy Reasons to Exit Mercury Fillings

Mr. Brown, as you requested, I am writing to memorialize our conversation today.  I called you to let you know that the agency intends to issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the classification of dental amalgam.  I also told you that the agency cannot commit to a specific date certain when this will issue. 

Wendy S. Vicente
Food & Drug Division, OGC
Wendy.Vicente@fda.hhs.gov
301-827-7138
301-827-7145 (facsimile)   

Awesome news!  Great work Charlie and team!!

Related Posts:
Web poll of mothers with autistics: Only 8% never had a single mercury amalgam (aka. silver filling)
Ruling in Moms Against Mercury, et al vs. FDA

Thimerosal on Trial

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Feels like a John Grisham novel/movie.

Ruling in Moms Against Mercury, et al vs. FDA

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

In my inbox from Charlie Brown at Consumers for Dental Choice:

Court declines to rule on merits in Moms Against Mercury v. FDA -- but suggests road map to victory

The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that it lacks jurisdiction (the statutory authority to rule) in Moms Against Mercury, et al. v. FDA, adding the decision is not a ruling on the merits of our cause and implying a remedy could lie in the U.S. District Court.  (Full opinion at www.cadc.uscourts.gov.)

To win this round, FDA paid an enormous price.  To achieve credibility with the court, FDA abandoned its long-time role of cheerleader for amalgam, five times admitting in its court brief that it FDA doesn’t know if mercury fillings are safe or unsafe. (Those 5 admissions can be read in full here.)

That a federal agency continues to allow untrammeled sales of a mercury-based device to pregnant women and children while conceding “the lack of definitive scientific evidence” and “intense disagreement about the scientific evidence” is reckless, contemptible, and immoral.  FDA must be hoping that no one outside the Capital Beltway finds out.  Or perhaps some of FDA’s protectors of mercury fillings (see next paragraph) intend to disavow those admissions before the ink is dry on the court decision.  Suspecting just that, I sent a warning letter to FDA counsel advising that any statements by FDA returning to the status quo ante constitutes a Fraud on the Court.  (Letter here.)

FDA’s hard-line protectors of mercury fillings include

• Associate Comm’r Norris Alderson, who presented the “white paper” apologia for amalgam in September, a position soundly rejected by two Scientific Advisory Committee position;
• Center for Devices Director Dan Schultz, MD, and Dep. Director Linda Kahan, Esq., who together uphold the outrageous “professional courtesy” stand to allow self-interested dentists ignorant of toxicological issues to make the decision, hence giving primacy to dental economics over children and fetal health;
• Division Director Chiu Lin, who used an unauthorized substantial equivalence test to OK an application for mercury fillings, even though the applicant himself advised Lin that mercury fillings aren’t allowed for pregnant women and children in its home country, the U.K.;
• and Dental Devices Branch Director Mary Susan Runner, the initiator of the notorious BETAH-LSRO contract and the ADA’s fifth columnist inside FDA.

The astonishing gap between FDA’s position (doesn’t know if it’s safe) and its policy (may be implanted into anyone without even warnings) is setting off a grassroots firestorm. 

• Ken Stoller, M.D., filed a sworn complaint to the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy asking that mercury fillings, no longer certified as safe by FDA, be banned in that state (want to help?--write Ken, hbotnm@netzero.com). 
• Philadelphia Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown plans hearings in early May (want to help?--write Freya Koss, frekoss@aol.com). 
• The latest example of a reckless dentist leaving bottles of mercury for children to get exposed happened in West Virginia; this time, we have a plan to fight back (want to help?--write Sandy Keech Esq., sandraK@toxicteeth.org). 
• In Ohio, the movement is growing to add a mercury-free dentist to a dental board whose policy is to block from consumers disclosures that “silver fillings” aren’t really silver (want to help?--write Jessica Kerger, Esq. JessKerger@aol.com). 
• Congresswoman Watson is closely monitoring these developments in consultation with Members of the House Government Reform Committee (want to help?--write Elizabeth Wright, elizabeth@toxicteeth.org)

Here’s the good news about the Court opinion:  It appears to suggest an ongoing violation of law.  The Court holds that FDA may not approve mercury amalgam by using a “substantial equivalent” test.  But that is exactly what FDA is doing when it approves mercury amalgam applications.

In the days ahead (stay tuned to our web site), we will announce our next step to reign in an FDA bureaucracy that exhibits both contempt for the law and reckless indifference to the health, and very lives, of America’s born and unborn children.

4/14/07

Charles G. Brown, National Counsel                              
Consumers for Dental Choice

Update on Moms Against Mercury v. FDA

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

A follow-up from the Charlie on the Moms Against Mercury v. FDA case that was heard on Tuesday:

Report of Oral Argument before U S Court of Appeals
Moms Against Mercury, et al. v. FDA, March 27, 2007

In our case to ban mercury fillings based on FDA’s refusal to classify this device, FDA’s lawyer and I presented before three Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington on March 27.  Two of the three Judges appeared skeptical that the Court will consider the merits of the case.  Their questions suggested the Court lacks jurisdiction – the authority from Congress to decide the case – because non-action (even for decades) may not equate to action.  We were somewhat surprised, because last year two other Judges on the same Court, sitting as the “motions panel,” ruled in our favor on this issue.

Questions from the Judges often appear to signal the direction they may be going, but have no legal weight.  All that counts is a court’s written opinion, which will likely issue in the late spring or early summer.

In its circle-the-wagons effort to block a ruling on the merits, FDA had to yield enormous ground to our side.  FDA admitted in its brief, five times, that it doesn’t know if mercury fillings are safe or unsafe.  FDA’s in-house dentists, protected by the “professional courtesy” policy of the Center on Devices’ do-nothing Director Dan Schultz MD, were told last September by FDA’s scientists, sitting on two Scientific Advisory Committees, that their pro-amalgam position is without merit.

That a federal agency allows untrammeled sales, without even warnings, to children and pregnant women of a product that they themselves can no longer certify is safe is contemptuous.  Such depravity means these regulators put their fellow bureaucrats and dentist profits ahead of the health of young children and unborn children.

It is time for one and all to write letters to their newspapers, to their Members of Congress or Parliament, and to their friends & neighbors, saying the U.S. government allows sale of a mercury product it no longer certifies as safe.  It is time for every American dentist who values the health of his/her patients, employees, or self – or who doesn’t want to lose their home in a future lawsuit – to abandon mercury fillings forthwith.  It is time for all of us to tell our family and friends not to do business with pro-mercury dentists. 

Charlie Brown, Counsel
Consumers for Dental Choice

Can't decide whether or not the mercury in amalgams is safe?  Maybe a peek at the label will help?

Another success story from the Jigsaw Health Foundation -- From Disability Insurance to Autistic Children's Instructor

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Kirsten story is really encouraging!  She is one of the beneficiaries of the Jigsaw Health Foundation.  Her story was featured in last month's Jigsaw Health Foundation eNewsletter:

For years Kirsten suffered from various chronic health conditions such as chronic fatigue, adrenal gland dysfunction, depression, digestive problems, and many others. She started working with a chiropractor that believed many of her problems stemmed from her mercury amalgams. Unfortunately, she was on California Disability and was unable to afford the removal of these 8 amalgams. However, we connected her with a local dentist that generously agreed to donate his services to remove all of her amalgams.

Three months after her last amalgam was removed she wrote, “Getting the mercury amalgams out of my body means I have a second chance at life - to live it in health, both physical and mental health. I can now think straight, concentrate, and have no more debilitating mood swings, which I had suffered virtually all of my life while my old mercury amalgams were in. Jigsaw Health has given me a whole, healthy mind, and there is nothing so sacred as one's mind. Jigsaw Health is a true blessing in my life, and it came just in time, when I had virtually given up all hope and had no where else to turn to for help. I am looking forward to getting back to work, I am strong enough now, and I will start in January as an instructor for children with autism. It feels so good to know I am now healthy enough to be able to be of service to others after so many have been of service to me, in my recovery to health. Thank you, each and every one involved in Jigsaw Health for your generosity and hard work, the ripple-effects are HUGE!”

This is REALLY cool!  :)  There are hundreds of foundations doing research on diseases, genetics, etc.  And there are millions of very well-intentioned people racing / walking / riding / swimming / singing / dancing for various cures.  We believed that if the Jigsaw Health Foundation could simply help people remove a source of poison from their mouths, good things were going to happen. 

And good things ARE happening.  Read the rest of the newsletter. 

And please consider making a monthly pledge.  Every nickel in 2007 will go directly to beneficiaries like Kirsten.

Related Posts:
Moms Against Mercury vs. FDA (Trial begins Tuesday, March 27, 2007)
The Smoking Tooth

Showdown, Moms Against Mercury v FDA: US Ct of App. hears oral argument Mar. 27

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

From Charlie Brown, National Counsel of Consumers for Dental Choice:

Showdown, Moms Against Mercury v. FDA:
US Ct of App. to hear oral argument Mar. 27

Dear friends -- The case of Moms Against Mercury, et al., v. FDA heads to a showdown next Tuesday morning, March 27.  I will argue the case against the government before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Our case, filed April 27, 2006, by 9 petitioners (names below)* charges FDA with illegally allowing the sale of mercury fillings.  For thirty years, FDA has defiantly refused to classify amalgam -- even though this step is required as the legal prerequisite to sale of any implants.  Even the repudiation of its pseudo-science by two FDA Scientific Panels on September 7, 2006 has not deterred FDA, who is making false and deceptive claims to mask the vote of these Panels.

Faced with standing before a federal court, FDA now departs from its role as chief cheerleader for mercury fillings. In its brief, FDA admits, five times, that it does not know if mercury amalgam is safe or unsafe!

This is a breakthrough not thought possible a year ago.  To repeat, FDA now admits that the evidence is “changing,” thus the safety of mercury fillings is not “definitive” and is “the subject of intense disagreement.”  Quotations from FDA’s brief, containing those admissions, are below.**

The question we have put to the Court, then, is:  Since FDA no longer knows, shouldn’t sales of this mercury device be stopped?

FDA’s defense is procedural and technical -- claiming our petitioners don’t have standing, and claiming that the Court lacks jurisdiction. 

If you wish details about attending this public event, write Freya Koss, frekossATaolDOTcom

Charlie Brown, 3/19/07


* The nine petitioners who sued FDA!:  Four organizations: Moms Against Mercury (Amy Carson, Angela Medlin), Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice (Mark Mitchell, M.D.), Oregonians for Life (Mary Starrett), and California Citizens for Health Freedom (Frank Cuny);  two state officials: California Dental Board Public Member Kevin J.Biggers, and Arizona State Senator Karen Johnson;  three individuals: Dr. Andy Landerman, Linda Brocato, and Anita Vazquez Tibau.

** FDA’s admissions in its brief to the US Court of Appeals:  “there is a lack of conclusive evidence regarding the health effects of mercury fillings”;  “constantly changing scientific evidence” exists on mercury amalgam;  “complex issues and intense disagreement [exist] about the scientific evidence regarding mercury and its potential health effects”;  “the complexity of the issue and the lack of conclusive scientific evidence on the health effects of dental amalgams”;  “the lack of … definitive scientific evidence.”

Please don't eat the humans

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

LOVE IT!!  :)

I met Mike Adams for the first time about a month ago at a speech he gave in Tucson, AZ.  He told me about this cartoon concept that was coming down the pike then and I loved it.  The concept and execution are classic.

The Smoking Tooth on YouTube

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

My "Things to Blog" folder is stacked with tons of great material (lead in multi-vitamins story, the autism being discussed on The View, etc.), I've just been too busy to get to any of that this week. 

But this is a must see...

Smoking Tooth = Poison Gas.



The producer and narrator of this video is Dr. David Kennedy, DDS retired.  I serve with him on the boards of Consumers for Dental Choice and Jigsaw Health Foundation.  He's been fighting the mercury amalgam (and fluoride) battle for nearly 30 years.  He is a walking encyclopedia of the hundreds (thousands?) of peer-reviewed published studies.  Whenever I ask him a question, his reply to me is usually several pages full of quotations from studies.  Dr. Kennedy is a great man.

YouTube.

FDA’s rogue bureaucracy to face intense scrutiny in ‘07

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Email from Charlie Brown of Consumers for Dental Choice:

FDA’s rogue bureaucracy to face intense scrutiny in ‘07

As 2007 dawns, the stars are aligning for fundamental changes in how the government regulates (by that I mean fails to regulate) mercury fillings.  Thus much is clear:  the clock has run out for the pro-mercury bureaucrats at FDA’s Center for Devices, a bureau so out of the mainstream the Supreme Court calls it “FDA’s neglected stepchild.”  The Center’s cover-up of the mercury, its refusal to do an environmental impact statement, its decision to allow amalgam sales with no proof of safety, and its arrogant attitude toward its legal duties will all be addressed in different forums in 2007. 

This rogue bureaucracy’s biggest mistake was using a bogus “white paper” to try to strong-arm two scientific panels into acquiescing in their cover-up of the science.  Using a public relations offensive over Labor Day weekend of 2006, FDA’s Center for Devices & Radiological Health announced that THIS mercury is safe -- before the panels even convened!  Stunned at FDA staff’s callous indifference to the human suffering caused by mercury fillings, the real scientists voted 13 to 7 to repudiate the FDA pseudo-scientists.  [this story]  The scientists withstood pressure as well from the array of dental groups who profit from amalgam.

Media reports indicate that with FDA no longer shilling for organized dentistry, individual dentists who still place mercury fear lawsuits -- as well they should.  After the vote of September 7, every dentist in America who continues to place mercury in children and pregnant women -- particularly when miscalling amalgam “silver” -- is on notice of its potentially severe adverse consequences. 

Charles G. Brown, National Counsel
Consumers for Dental Choice
www.toxicteeth.org

PS - As a board member of Consumers for Dental Choice, I reached out to Mike Adams of Newstarget and we talked about getting mercury amalgams on the radar of his 500,000 readers in 2007.  Mike was always aware the mercury amalgams were bad, but had never really looked into it much.  We spent an hour on the phone talking about the documented health and environmental impacts.  He's now VERY gung-ho about it.  So some good things to come in oh-seven!

Mercury from thermometers poison day care kids

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Marie Flowers of MercuryPoisoned.com points me to a story going on in New Jersey.  Apparently, the Kiddie Kollege day care building used to be a mercury thermometer factory that was never fully cleaned up.  And now, kids like Alexis Davis are showing signs of mercury toxicity:

"Alexis went to Kiddie Kollege for two years. Over those two years her health really deteriorated," she said. "They didn't know what was wrong with her." As she spoke, Davis presented class pictures of her daughter, taken while she was enrolled at Kiddie Kollege. The three pictures taken over the course of two years show the slow paralysis of Alexis' face, with the right side of her face no longer able to smile, Davis suggested.

"You can see her face has no strength; her teeth are rotting; these kids need help," Davis said.

Mercury Activists

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Charlie Brown from Consumers for Dental Choice sent the following email.  As I read through it, I was reminded again of just how long this fight to abolish mercury from dentistry has been going on.  Each recipient is highly deserving of our appreciation.  The "crack in the damn" earlier this summer is due to each of these individuals hard work, as well as the efforts of many, MANY others. 

    Consumers for Dental Choice proudly honors six individuals for their outstanding service to the cause of abolishing mercury fillings.  Each has been sent a plaque in recognition of her/his achievements.

    Maz Levy, Lifetime Achievement Award.  Maz earned this award for her pioneering media and communications work; she filmed the early California battles, had perhaps the first TV program and web site, and testified eloquently and often.  I am saddened to report that Maz Levy received the prize posthumously; it was presented to her daughter Nova Katz.

    Linda Brocato, Volunteer of the Year.  A tireless advocate for well over a decade, Linda is one of the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit filed in April v. FDA to ban mercury fillings, secured press attention for the lawsuit, and served as the leadoff witness to the FDA scientific panels in the historic Sept. 6 - 7 hearings. 

    Two folks were jointly awarded the special prize of “Advocate of the Decade”; this duo, working from opposite coasts, transformed our movement in 2001 and never let up since.

    Anita Vazquez Tibau, Advocate of the Decade.  In 2001 Anita energized the movement to ban mercury fillings, launching the campaign to shut down the abysmal Dental Board of California, and was lead plaintiff suing the ADA.  That work caused all boards to start backing off enforcing the illegal ADA gag rule, and launched a three-year effort resulting in enforcing California’s Watson Law.

    Freya Koss, Advocate of the Decade.  More than anyone, Freya has worked at every level of government, in every region, and with every constituency – showing leadership, determination, and perseverance – that is turning the tide against mercury fillings.  She was lead plaintiff suing NIH, and founded the PA Coalition Against Mercury-free Dentistry.

Two folks were jointly awarded the prize of “Public Official of the Year”:

    Richard Butcher, Public Official of the Year.  As Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Watson, Richard became Capitol Hill’s authority on the mercury amalgam issue, arranging legislative hearings, cracking the iron wall created by NIH and FDA regulators, and providing hope nationwide that mercury amalgam will be banned. 

   

Mike Fleming, D.D.S., Public Official of the Year.  As the first-even advocate of mercury-free dentistry to serve on FDA’s Dental Products Panel, Dr. Mike spearheaded the vote that became the first federal rejection of mercury fillings.  His actions serve as a shot across the bow that mercury fillings will cease to exist.

Does TD-DMPS trans the dermal? (UPDATE 2)

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Autism Diva (I shudder to link) found this detailed review of a recent DAN! conference by Pramila about TD-DMPS not being TD because it doesn't trans the dermal.  The quote was:

This is from a blog belonging to a mom who does the DAN! biomedical stuff to her son:

There was an interesting detox panel discussion.  Dr Quig [Vice President, Scientific Support for Doctor’s Data Inc. lab] who sees zillion Doctors Data reports had some interesting comments: like TD-DMPS is not transdermal because it doesn't trans the dermal! Suppositories and IV are generally more effective. He mentioned that none of these really penetrate the blood brain barrier. They bind to extra-cellular toxins and draw them out by creating a concentration gradient. He also mentioned that CaEDTA is very effective for lead. He emphasized the need for pre and post provocation measurements. The doctors mentioned the protocols for IVs they use in their practices.

(Emphasis, photo, and bracketed words added.)

(My additional bold + italics emphasis on "Suppositories and IV are generally more effective." which you will see come in to play in a moment.)

I emailed Dr. Buttar on Thursday 10/26 to see if he had seen this?  He said I was the second person to send him a link and he was pretty fired up about it. 

To paraphrase his reply, "It is illogical for Dr. Quig to say this.  How could the head PhD for Doctors Data see thousands of his own company's tests showing heavy metals being excreted with TD-DMPS as the chelating agent say that TD-DMPS does not trans the dermal?  Logic would dictate that if TD-DMPS does not cross the skin, but the provocation tests show excretion of heavy metals while non-provocation tests are negative, then the tests themselves are wrong! Quite an odd thing for a VP of DoctorsData to say about his own company."

Yeah.  Makes sense to me. 

So my reply to Dr. Buttar was, "Ok, then why the heck would Dr. Quig say that?  There's got be a reasonable explanation or a miscommunication."

And of course, there is.

Dr. Buttar received an email and phone call Tuesday 10/31 from Darrell Hickok, President and CEO of DoctorsData, with an extremely sincere "we are so sorry for the confusion that we've caused and we'll do whatever we can to correct the mistaken impression we've made about TD-DMPS."

So what's the explanation?  Dr. Quig was merely saying that TD-DMPS is not good for challenge testing, something that Dr. Buttar fully agrees with.  TD-DMPS is a therapeutic chelator that has the advantage of being able to remove metals slowly.  But it's the least effective for challenge tests.  IV is preferred method for challenge testing.

So will Camille Clark the Autism Diva update her post?

(Sidenote)

UPDATE 1: From Dr. Buttar, "I would appreciate it if you could add a clarification.  I would like for you to mention that in my protocol that was updated in Dec 2004, I clearly stated that TD-DMPS was the least effective challenging version of DMPS.  However, based on the fact that even "Karen" (the patient example I used in front of Congress, the one that helped me figure out what was going on) did NOT respond to IV DMPS challenge testing until repetitively being provoked.  The issue of the challenge is less important to me now than understanding that these people can NOT get rid of metals, especially mercury.  So even though the TD-DMPS is not a good challenging agent, I'm only looking to see a greater yield in subsequent challenges compared to the base line challenge.  That's it.  Yes, IV DMPS gives greater baselines and even great subsequent challenges, and we use that for kids older than 7, and have done so since 2001.  But for the younger kids, we have used TD-DMPS since 2002 and we're ONLY looking for a greater level of mercury on subsequent challenge testing compared with the baseline challenge testing."

UPDATE 2: Dr. Buttar emails another slight clarification, but the nuance is important.  Paraphrasing several emails, "TD-DMPS is still effective for challenge testing as clinical results using DoctorsData tests have clearly shown.  It's just not as effective as IV-DMPS for SCREENING purposes, especially in non-excretors."

The End of Mercury Fillings?

Here is a great post at the Huffington Post entitled "The Beginning of the End of Mercury in Dentistry."

I applaud Rep. Diane Watson (D) for her courageous and longtime stance against the ADA and FDA and their insistence that this incredibly stupid and untested use of mercury in humans was safe.  It is NOT safe.  At least it has never been proven safe by either the ADA or the FDA. 

Someday the use of mercury in dentistry will end just like the use of Asbestos ended.  Imagine though if the same approach used for Asbestos was applied to Mercury Fillings.  Laws were passed making it necessary to remove Asbestos from the buildings that contained it.  Yikes!! 

Removing amalgams from the mouths of over 70% of the entire population of America (200+ million people)  would be quite a task.  Especially if dentists have to do it right.  (You can't just drill the damn stuff out!!  You will make tens of millions even more poisoned and sick.)  And WHO is going to pay for it??  The ADA?  The US taxpayers?

Would it improve the health of America?  Absolutely!!  Even with the small sample group that Jigsaw Foundation has, we are seeing that getting mercury amalgams can dramatically effect the health of many.   If you can, please donate to the Foundation so that we can help more very sick people get started on the road to health by removing this terrible poison!

A new low in Autism/Mercury debates?

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Has YouTube allowed us to reach a new low in the autism/mercury debate? 

Kevin Leitch, who I have verbally sparred with from time to time but generally consider to be a good chap, has posted a video on YouTube that reminds me of a political campaign commercial.  You know the ones that we all hate?  Where politicians use out of context quotes, make ridiculous assumptions, all against a backdrop of "uglifying" special effects and ominous background music to smear their opponents and scare voters into voting for Mr. Sunshine.  96% of Amercians hate these ads*, so much so that Congress enacted (stupid) legislation to restrict free speech.  Not that that has cleaned up political campaigns.

I'm saddened that we come down to a sound bite war, but it always does.  And I'm sure we'll start seeing "political ads" coming from my side of the river soon enough.  Too bad.

In fairness Kev, your first video post was a really touching and positive video about your daughter.

* I made this stat up.  I don't know how many Americans hate these political ads, but I sure don't know any that do other than the creative firms getting paid to produce them, the media placement firms getting paid to buy airtime, and the TV stations selling the time.  And their can't be more than 4% of Americans in any of those jobs.

Health Advisors reject FDA's claim that mercury is safe (UPDATED)

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

As far as I can tell, this is good news:

FDA at odds over safety of mercury fillings
Health advisers reject federal report, say more study is needed

Updated: 4:55 p.m. MT Sept 7, 2006

WASHINGTON - Government health advisers rejected a federal report that concluded dental fillings used by millions of patients are safe, saying further study of the mercury-laden amalgam is needed.

A joint panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers did not declare the so-called “silver fillings” unsafe. But in a 13-7 vote Thursday, the advisers said the federal report didn’t objectively and clearly present the current state of knowledge about the fillings.

In a second 13-7 vote, the panelists said the report’s conclusions about safety weren’t reasonable, given the quantity and quality of information currently available.

This news even made Brian Williams' Nightly News cast, which is fantastic!  I'm ecstatic any time mercury amalgams (aka. "silver fillings") are mentioned on the news.  Sends people to google!

Considering we were all probably secretly setting ourselves up for another major disappointment in the war against mercury amalgams, I think this news from the 2 day FDA conference really might be a sign real progress, slow though it may be.  I'm sure I'll be getting an email update from Charlie Brown, National Counsel of Consumers for Dental Choice very soon.

UPDATE: Pat is out in Florida today at the IAOMT meeting representing the Jigsaw Health Foundation.  He's been talking with the "celebrities" from our side of the mercury controversy -- Boyd Haley, Bernie Wyndham, Freya Koss, Bob Reeves, Russell Blaylock, etc -- and every single person there is ecstatic and shocked at what has happened at these meetings.  As previously reported, everyone had the feeling that the fix was in.  Sure I'll be hearing from Charlie soon as well.

Finally, a crack in the damn.

   

WTC Volunteers are sick

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Living & Laughing with Chronic Illness points to a story about World Trade Center volunteers who arrived on the scene for rescue and clean-up are now "conclusively...chronically sick...because of their exposure to asbestos, pulverized concrete, mercury and toxins..."  (Emphasis mine.)

I left the following comment:

I heard about this story today on the radio.  I fear that New Orleans volunteers will/are having similar issues with mold toxicity, the consequences of which are only just beginning to be understood.

Also, I find it interesting that mercury is specifically named in the list of toxins.  Asbestos makes sense, but how was there any sort of concentration of mercury in the building?  And juxtapose a report like this that specifically names mercury as a cause of chronic sickness against the FDA declaring that mercury in your mouth is safe.  MAKES NO SENSE!

"FDA says mercury amalgams aren't harmful"

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

It appears as though the fix is in over at the FDA, but advocates from across the country are still going to give their best shot for making a change.  From MSNBC.com,

"The science is over. There is no safe level of exposure," said Charles Brown, a lawyer for one of the groups, Consumers for Dental Choice. "The only thing standing between this and a ban is politics. They are still pretending it is a scientific question, but it isn't."

I know Charles Brown personally.  He's done amazing things for this movement against incredible odds.  The next two days will be the biggest test!

Please call/email/fax C-SPAN:

URGENT: Help get FDA Hearing on Dental Amalgam on C-SPAN
Posted by: "Marie Flowers" MarieFlow@aol.com   
Mon Sep 4, 2006 1:10 pm (PST)

To Friends who wish to Eliminate Mercury from American Dentistry,

PLEASE help America become free from the scourge of Dental Mercury Toxicity by flooding C-SPAN with requests to reveal this to the public.

C-SPAN has let us know that they will televise next week's FDA Hearing on Dental Mercury, Sept. 6 and 7th, if they receive many requests from the public either by

Fax: 202 737-6226
Email: events@c-span.org, addressed to C-SPAN Events Director.
C-SPAN TELEPHONE Main Number: (202) 737-3220
http://www.c-span.org/about/contact.asp

Please read the attached press advisory before calling to familiarize yourself with the message we wish to give, and please send this notice and the attached advisory out on everyone on your list.

Also direct them to www.toxicteeth.org for additional information about the hearing.

The topic, date, time, place, name of phone contact and number needs to be on the request to C-SPAN.

TOPIC: Joint Meeting of the Dental Products Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

DATE: September 6, 2006 8 am -5 PM

September 7, 2006 8 am - 5 PM

LOCATION: Holiday Inn
Walker/Whetstone Rm.
Two Montgomery Village Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD

CONTACT PERSON FOR C-SPAN TO CALL:
Peter Kelley, Public Relations 202-270-8831
Freya Koss, Consumers for Dental Choice 610-202-7822

Agenda:
This joint committee will review and discuss peer-reviewed scientific literature on dental amalgam devices.  Dental amalgam, also called "encapsulated amalgam," consists of dental mercury and amalgam alloys. This joint committee will review and discuss peer-reviewed scientific literature on dental amalgam and its potential mercury
toxicity, specifically as it relates to neurotoxic effects. Certain consumer groups have raised concerns about the effects of using mercury as a component of dental restorative materials; therefore, we are combining the expertise of the Dental Products Panel of the Medical Device Advisory Committee with the neurology expertise of the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/advisory/accalendar/2006/cdrh12518dd09060706.html

For more information, please see the sponsoring organizations' web sites at
http://www.mercurypolicy.org/new/documents/WhatPatientsDontKnow.pdf,
www.toxicteeth.org/fact%20sheet2006.pdf, and
www.iaomt.org/infoDoctors.cfm.

Please send this to people on your mailing list.

Thank you for caring and sharing. Many will be giving thier stories about being poisoned before the FDA on Tuesday afternoon.

Marie Flowers of www.MercuryPoisoned.com
DAMS Activist in Virginia

********************************************
PRESS RELEASE OF CONSUMERS FOR DENTAL CHOICE, MERCURY POLICY PROJECT, IAOMT

Media advisory for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5
Contact: Peter Kelley, 202-270-8831
Advocates to petition for ban to protect pregnant women from mercury tooth fillings, as FDA holds first public hearings in 13 years, Sept. 6-7

Press conference call set for 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Sept. 5

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leading up to the first public hearings in 13 years on the safety of mercury tooth fillings, advocates intend to file a petition with the FDA next Tuesday, Sept. 5, calling for an immediate ban on use of mercury tooth fillings in pregnant women, to protect the development of their unborn babies. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, under pressure from medical researchers and consumers, will review the neurotoxic health hazards of mercury from dental tooth fillings at public hearings on Sept. 6 and 7 in Gaithersburg, Md.

A press conference call has been set for 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Sept. 5, to discuss the petition to the FDA. Mercury tooth filling manufacturers have advised dentists in the past against use in pregnant women. Canada, Britain, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and several other countries already have similar bans or warnings on
using mercury tooth fillings in vulnerable groups. A U.S. EPA study says as many as one American baby in eight – up to 600,000 babies a year – is born with an unsafe level of this toxin because of mercury in the mothers' bloodstream.

In light of these facts, members of Consumers for Dental Choice, the Mercury Policy Project, and the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), will file their petition on Tuesday, Sept. 5 with legal status under the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act. The FDA has six months to respond. Meanwhile the ban requested will be the centerpiece of testimony to FDA panels next week by eminent medical researchers who believe that mercury fillings pose an unacceptable risk to the pregnant women and their babies.

The researchers will testify as public witnesses, although severely restricted by the FDA to only 3- to 10-minute presentations. The Mercury Policy Project will present new research documenting the neurotoxic effects of mercury on female dental assistants that, in turn, was likely passed on to their offspring during their pregnancies. In addition, researchers representing the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) will be joined by public interest lawyers, policy experts, members of Consumers for Dental Choice, and other citizens who report serious health problems from their mercury fillings. The hearings start at 8 a.m. next Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 6 and 7, at the Holiday Inn in Gaithersburg, Md.

The telephone press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. Eastern will feature these speakers:

-- Charles Brown, general counsel for Consumers for Dental Choice. Earlier this year Brown filed the lawsuit Moms Against Mercury vs. FDA, helping prompt the hearings.

-- Michael Bender, MS, director of Mercury Policy Project, who has recently investigated reports of health effects of mercury on dental nurses, in particular.

-- Dr. Boyd Haley, PhD, professor and former chairman of chemistry, University of Kentucky, on how the mercury in tooth fillings affects the body.

-- Dr. Richard D. Fischer, DDS, FAGD, FIAOMT, a practicing dentist in Virginia and past president of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.

For call-in instructions, accredited journalists only should contact Peter Kelley at 202-270-8831, or peter@kelleycampaigns.com.  For more information, please see the sponsoring organizations' websites at
http://www.mercurypolicy.org/new/documents/WhatPatientsDontKnow.pdf,
www.toxicteeth.org/fact%20sheet2006.pdf, and
www.iaomt.org/infoDoctors.cfm.

###

Mercury and Wild Oats

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

I just saw a television commercial for a Mercury Mariner hybrid, set against what looked like a Wild Oats parking lot.  Interesting cross-branding.  Though somewhat ironic considering what I think of when I hear the word mercury.  The closing line from the eco-friendly, thirty-something, named "Jill" (probably) as she put her dog into the backseat, was "You've gotta put Mercury on your list." 

Taking vaccine safety away from vaccine promoters

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

In my inbox from Amy Carson of Mom's Against Mercury:

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Bobbie Manning 716-713-6625

Historical Move Made By Congressman Dave Weldon

Washington, DC - U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. (R-FL) to introduce a bill that would give responsibility for the nation’s vaccine safety to an independent agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, removing most vaccine safety research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Currently, the CDC has responsibility for both vaccine safety and promotion, which Weldon believes has created a conflict of interest. Across the federal government we have worked to eliminate similar conflicts of interest, but with regard to mandatory childhood vaccines we allow this conflict to persist unchecked.

The most notorious example of the CDC and its history of manipulating its own vaccine data is the Simpsonwood, Georgia meeting.  A closed door secret meeting convened by the CDC in the year 2000, in Simpsonwood, Georgia, after the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in 1999 the removal of thimerosal, a mercury based preservative, from all childhood vaccines.

Through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Safeminds, a non-profit organization which supports research on the potential harmful effects of mercury and thimerosal, was able to obtain the meeting transcript which clearly indicated that the CDC recognized the serious danger of the continued use of thimerosal/mercury in vaccines, even through their own study, however, did not want to disclose this information to the public and allowed the continued use of thimerosal  to be injected into infants and children by consistently manipulating their own data.

Dr. Thomas Verstraeten, a CDC Epidemiologist, used the CDC’s internal database, the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), for their own study which showed a statistically significant relationship between the amount of mercury children were receiving through vaccines and neurological disorders.  No matter how he tried to run the numbers, he wrote, the association “just won't go away”. 

The CDC ultimately released a report in which they said thimerosal/mercury in vaccines had no causal effects.

Many private, independent researchers have been denied access to the VSD to conduct their own studies.  The only private researchers able to receive access had tremendous difficulty in doing so and their research uncovered the same horrifying results as Dr. Verstraeten’s original study.

“There’s an enormous conflict of interest within the CDC and if we fail to move vaccine safety out of the CDC, public confidence in the safety of vaccines will continue to erode,” said Weldon. “This bill will provide the independence necessary to ensure that vaccine safety research is robust, unbiased, and broadly accepted.”

Bobbie Manning, Congressional Liaison for A-CHAMP, a national organization dedicated to advancing public policy issues for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, has been invited to participate.  Through grassroots efforts, A-CHAMP has been very successful in helping vaccine injured children.

"This nonsense has continued for long enough.  It is time the power of the CDC be diminished in the area of vaccine safety studies.  How unbiased can they be on vaccine safety while promoting these same shots for America's children?", states Manning.

"We are so thankful for the hard work and dedication of Rep. Dave Weldon and his office.  He has been very supportive and active in finding fair, honest answers for our vaccine injured children", says Amy Carson, Co-Founder of Moms Against Mercury, a non-profit organization that advocates for safer vaccines.

"This is what we needed decades ago, and I for one, am proud that Rep. Weldon has the courage to stand up and fight for our vaccine injured children", she adds.

Weldon’s move comes as the Senate considers legislation that reforms the way the FDA evaluates drug safety issues, but explicitly omits vaccines from further safety reviews.

The press conference will be held Wednesday, July 26, 2006, at 9:00am in US Capitol Room H-144.

Seems like a good idea on paper.  But it's another branch of the government that's looking over the government, and there's just too much federal back-scratching going on.  It's really beginning to feel like the feds are more worried about "protecting the sheeple because we know best" than "working for the people because you pay our check."

Jigsaw Health Foundation Newsletter

I'm really pleased with the progress being made by the Jigsaw Health Foundation and the beneficiaries we've been helping, thanks to the generous monetary donations and also in-kind donations from Mercury-Free dentists.  Read the latest newsletter, featuring:

Jigsaw Health Foundation Welcomes Bob Reeves to the Board
A Word from our Beneficiaries
Calling all Mercury-Free Dentists
Filling a Need for Mercury-Free Health
Mercury Information
FDA Holds Public Hearings on Mercury Amalgam
JAMA Papers Perpetuate Myth
Detoxifying Mercury

Moms Against Mercury Rally

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

Mom's push mercury-autism link:

Amy Carson screamed into a megaphone as drivers rolled up their car windows and turned into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

...

Jose Cordero, director of the CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, says autism is probably caused by several factors. "Research is pointing to a combination of genetic and environmental factors," Cordero said. "Finding the cause is our highest priority."

...

The Moms Against Mercury rally was one of the most significant protests to occur at the CDC since the HIV/AIDS protests in the 1980s. "The amount of mercury in multiple vaccines injected into children is causing significant neurological damage," Carson said. "What they're doing is criminal."

Interesting use of the word "significant" there.  Wonder why they felt that?