Pat Sullivan Blog

"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:[email protected]]
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
[email protected]
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, [email protected]). 
• Philadelphia Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown plans hearings in early May (want to help?--write Freya Koss, [email protected]). 
• 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., [email protected]). 
• 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. [email protected]). 
• Congresswoman Watson is closely monitoring these developments in consultation with Members of the House Government Reform Committee (want to help?--write Elizabeth Wright, [email protected])

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