Approval For Trial Obtained By False Claims

Media release: Citizens Collective for Fluoride-Free Water

15 April 2009.

Ethics Committee Approval For Fluoridation Trial Obtained By False Claims

Ethics approval for the fluoridation trial, forced on the people of Kaitaia and Kaikohe from March 2007 to March 2009, was obtained by misrepresentations by the applicant, the Northland DHB, according to documents obtained under the Official Information Act.

The Northland DHB filed false claims of support from iwi and others, who were in fact opposed to the trial. It also misrepresented the implementation of fluoridation, thereby downgrading the consultation and disclosure requirements. Approval by the Northern Regional Y Ethics Committee was only gained the year after the trial began.

The NDHB now faces the ire of those whose claimed endorsements were used falsely by the NDHB to gain approval for its trial.

The NDHB listed Te Runanga O Te Rarawa and Hone Harawira, Maori Party MP, as "forefronters" of the trial survey, when they were no such thing. Te Rarawa had opposed fluoridation. No supporting evidence was provided. The DHB also failed to provide evidence of support from other major Iwi, Nga Puhi, and Ngati Kahu, in spite of being specifically asked for it by the committee.

The NDHB also failed to mention the extensive opposition from within the communities to fluoridation, including a 2484-signature petition against the trial. It only presented its own, small, petition in support.

The NDHB stated that the research would incorporate the values and provisions of the Treaty of Waitangi and that the trial research process was culturally safe and acceptable to Maori and non-Maori participants. "How can poisoning the water, whenua and people, be culturally safe and acceptable for anyone? And without their consent, all for a trial?" says Jackie Pou of Rawene and of Te Rarawa, Te Roroa and Nga Puhi descent.

To add insult to injury, one of the key researchers also claimed extensive consultation with Iwi in a NZ Dental Journal article, as "best practice". "What a joke!" says Jackie Pou. "They only ‘consulted’ with their own pro-fluoridation groups."

The NDHB falsely claimed that the Far North District Council (FNDC) started fluoridation as a public health measure, and the NDHB was simply proposing to gather information after that decision had been made. The consultation and risk disclosure requirements are much higher for an ‘intervention study’ (what is actually happening) than for the claimed ‘observation study’ – the basis of ethics approval.

The NDHB secretly lobbied the FNDC, then paid for the fluoridation equipment and the fluoride chemical for the 2 years of the trial. “Then the NDHB has the audacity to insist ‘we are not conducting a trial’!" exclaims Ms Pou.

This meant the researchers claimed they had no obligation to warn participants of any potential adverse effects from fluoridating the water; only from dental examinations.

For example the NDHB would have had to advise parents of the risks to infants fed milk formula made up with fluoridated water (issued by the US Public Health Service in 2006 and confirmed by the NZ Standard); the increased risk to diabetics and those with impaired kidney function, and to those drinking a lot of water in the heat of the Far North; and the increased risk of bone cancer to young men who drink fluoridated water between the ages of 5 and 10.

The fluoride dosing ceased on March 31st 2009. The NDHB is now seeking a further 2 year trial. It is on the Council's agenda for their 30 April meeting. The FNDC continues to rate fluoridation as ‘low significance’, "so that they can slip it in under the radar again" says Ms Pou. "Who says it is low significance? Once again, the communities themselves are sidelined. This is outrageous" she proclaims. The original Commission of Enquiry into Fluoridation held it was ‘high significance’, requiring the ‘special consultation procedures’ under the Act.

"Are the FNDC councillors representing the NDHB or the people in the communities?" asks Ms Pou. "Who will be leaving the FNDC councillors high and dry when it suits them? The FNDC councillors will be held accountable for any liability" she adds.

"The NDHB/FNDC's ' consultation ' process is so great that the people of Kaikohe and Kaitaia didn't even know that their water was now fluoride-free. When hearing this good news, some people have been so happy and they most definitely don't want the fluoride dosing to continue, let alone for a further unwanted Health Board experiment. They're still angry at the first trial going ahead, let alone a second one! " proclaims Ms Pou.

Ms Pou concludes by advising Councillors "Represent your constituents. You were voted in because you were trusted. Don't let the people down. The people vote you in - and out! Say 'no' to the NDHB. We, the people, have the right to say ‘no'."

Public meetings will be held in Kaitaia and Kaikohe on 28th and 29th of April respectively.

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