New Philly fact sheet law presents opportunity, challenge

[Guest guest]

Philly requires dentist to inform patients about mercury fillings! . . . ----- Forwarded Message ----From: Brown <brownchas@...>

New

Philadelphia “Fact Sheet” Law Presents

Opportunity and Challenge After a four-year battle, we have a fact sheet law in

Philadelphia , the first city to adopt such a

law. Our cause was led by Freya Koss,

head of the PA Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry, who assembled a grassroots

team, worked with the city government, and engaged the press. The sponsor

was Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown,

who tirelessly worked through the amending and the educating of her fellow

Councilpersons to build a unanimous vote on December 13, 2007, for passage of the law.

Consumers for Dental Choice honored Blondell as our Public Official of the Year.

The law

requires the Philadelphia Board of Health to write a fact sheet within six

months. It requires every dentist who still uses mercury fillings to give the

fact sheet to every patient and parent. And here’s some great

news; the law requires the participation

of Consumers for Dental Choice, one of three groups named to be

consultants. I have written the Commissioner of Health stating what the

law requires and the need to comply with law’s rigid timetables. As with

all fact sheet laws --- e.g., California, Maine, New Hampshire --- passing the

law is only half the battle. The other half is to make sure that powerful

dentist bureaucrats inside government don’t sandbag the law. We

must not assume that passing the law means it will be enforced; our experience

is to the contrary, unless we are eternally vigilant. Hence, Consumers for Dental Choice has designated Freya to be our

negotiator at City Hall; remember, we have an official role to play so they

must listen to us. Freya will again be using a grassroots strategy

to victory. She welcomes your assistance and your ideas; frekoss@.... Our website will give updates of, e.g.,

the Board of Health’s upcoming public meeting. For more info, see

www.toxicteeth.org/natcamp_stategovt_pa_amalgam_fact_sheet_law.cfm

Charlie Brown

February 27, 2008

G. Brown, National Counsel

Consumers for Dental Choice

316 F St., N.E., Suite 210 , Washington , DC 20002

Ph. 202.544-6333; fax 544-6331

charlie@...; www.toxicteeth.org

[Guest guest]

Philly requires dentist to inform patients about mercury fillings! . . . ----- Forwarded Message ----From: Brown <brownchas@...>

New

Philadelphia “Fact Sheet” Law Presents

Opportunity and Challenge After a four-year battle, we have a fact sheet law in

Philadelphia , the first city to adopt such a

law. Our cause was led by Freya Koss,

head of the PA Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry, who assembled a grassroots

team, worked with the city government, and engaged the press. The sponsor

was Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown,

who tirelessly worked through the amending and the educating of her fellow

Councilpersons to build a unanimous vote on December 13, 2007, for passage of the law.

Consumers for Dental Choice honored Blondell as our Public Official of the Year.

The law

requires the Philadelphia Board of Health to write a fact sheet within six

months. It requires every dentist who still uses mercury fillings to give the

fact sheet to every patient and parent. And here’s some great

news; the law requires the participation

of Consumers for Dental Choice, one of three groups named to be

consultants. I have written the Commissioner of Health stating what the

law requires and the need to comply with law’s rigid timetables. As with

all fact sheet laws --- e.g., California, Maine, New Hampshire --- passing the

law is only half the battle. The other half is to make sure that powerful

dentist bureaucrats inside government don’t sandbag the law. We

must not assume that passing the law means it will be enforced; our experience

is to the contrary, unless we are eternally vigilant. Hence, Consumers for Dental Choice has designated Freya to be our

negotiator at City Hall; remember, we have an official role to play so they

must listen to us. Freya will again be using a grassroots strategy

to victory. She welcomes your assistance and your ideas; frekoss@.... Our website will give updates of, e.g.,

the Board of Health’s upcoming public meeting. For more info, see

www.toxicteeth.org/natcamp_stategovt_pa_amalgam_fact_sheet_law.cfm

Charlie Brown

February 27, 2008

G. Brown, National Counsel

Consumers for Dental Choice

316 F St., N.E., Suite 210 , Washington , DC 20002

Ph. 202.544-6333; fax 544-6331

charlie@...; www.toxicteeth.org