Green Party Lawyer's letter on fluoridation
The following letter was printed in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus on 11 September, 2003. I can't find an URL, so am copying it directly from the paper. - J
Illegal fluoride
Sir - Your article on the fluoridation controversy (T&A, September 3) was most welcome. However, there are significant legal matters which the health authority appears to be ignoring.
Firstly, the European Convention on Human Rights and Medicine and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights explicitly acknowledge the right of individuals to refuse or discontinue medication. This is also standard medical ethics. Water fluoridation thus denies a right established in international conventions.
Secondly, water fluoridation violates an EU Pharmaceuticals Directive, which requires all medicines to be thoroughly tested and registered. The hexafluorosilicic acid used in water fluoridation has been neither tested nor registered. Britain's Green Party MEPs are taking up this matter with the European Commission.
Thirdly, fluorosilicates are Part 2 Poisons under the Poisons Act 1972. It is anomalous that fluoridation can be made legal while the substances used for fluoridation are banned.
If water fluoridation goes ahead in Bradford, there will be ample scope for legal action against the health authority. Your readrs may wish to familiarise themselves with the beifing on the legal aspects of water fluoridation which can be found on the Green Party website at: www.greenparty.org.uk/reports/2003/F%20illegality.htm.
Rajeev Thacker, LLB, Green Party Spokesperson on Legal Affairs, 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ ALSO SEE Doug Cross' reply to the Chief Medical Officer: www.npwa.freeserve.co.uk/cross_lit.html