MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOTE IS COUNTED:
Consumers, healthcare professionals and concerned organizations are urged to attend this meeting - For the FIRST TIME the Board will vote on Fact Sheet that complies with the law.
To Consumer activists, healthcare professionals and Representatives of good guy groups:
The CA Dental Board meets in San Francisco on Friday, July 11, for a (very) long-awaited vote. In compliance with the Watson/Figueroa law, Board member Chet Yokoyama will present an excellent proposed Fact Sheet that actually tells consumers about the risks of mercury fillings.
The (Diane) Watson law, passed in 1992, requires the Dental Board to list the risks of mercury and other dental fillings. The previous Dental Board ducked its responsibilities under the Watson law so blatantly that the Legislature shut it down. The (Liz) Figueroa amendment, passed in 2001, requires dentists to distribute a consumer-friendly fact sheet to consumers. Now, 11 years after the Watson law and 2 years after the Figueroa amendment, the Board will vote for the first time on a fact sheet that complies with the law.
We expect a battle. Having thwarted the Watson law for a decade and with two dental boards, the Calif. Dental Assoc. continues to fight disclosure of risks. This new board was supposed to end the CDA's dominance of what should be a consumer protection agency. We shall see if it has turned out that way.
The importance of this meeting cannot be overstated. In our largest state, our trendsetter state, we have the chance to pass a statement that will actually advise consumers that those fillings are mercury, not silver; that they pose significant health risks, and that pregnant women and parents of young children should especially beware.
Many of you have helped us in the past. On July 11 our opportunity may be at hand. Hope to see you, or a rep. of your group, there.
*** WE NEED A REAL CROWD!
Three questions, please!
** 1) Will you attend?
** 2) Will you invite others?
** 3) Would your group write a letter for you or us to present?
DIRECTIONS: The meeting is at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 150 Anza Blvd., Burlingame (ph 650.342-4600). BART: get off at Millbrae stop. Get cab to go 2 miles ($5). SFO: Take the "Embassy Suites / Doubletree" shuttle (the Embassy Suites shuttle going to Burlingame, not the one to South S.F.); leaves every 20 minutes.
Charlie Brown, counsel, brownchas@erols.com
Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry
1725 K St., N.W., Suite 511
Washington, DC 20006
Ph. 202.822-6307; fax 822-6309 Web site: www.toxicteeth.org
Let us know you're coming - contact:
Anita Vazquez Tibau, CA Director: Pedrotibau@hotmail.com
Freya Koss, Director of Development: Frekoss@aol.com