The recent Waikato Times’ front page story ‘‘COUNCIL GOT IT WRONG’’, completely failed to mention any of the substantive issues that were considered by the Hamilton City Council in making their decision after a four-day fluoride tribunal.

Without considering these facts, the Waikato Times practically called for the councillors’ heads and smeared the ‘‘anti-fluoridationists’’. The council website contains all the documentation and presentations that were considered in the very robust process of reaching their conclusion. If one’s brain has not been too damaged by fluoride already, they will appreciate the reasons why council made the correct decision. As a physician, I have been a victim of ‘‘pro-fluoride’’ propaganda and misinformation all of my life, often reciting the scientifically ill-founded mantra: ‘‘Fluoridated water is good for teeth.’’

My great awakening (and recovery from being a ‘‘tool’’) came only a few weeks ago, when I attended ‘‘Medical Grand Rounds’’ at the Waikato DHB. This turned out to be simply an indoctrination session for water fluoridation. Such a forum is meant to be for academic instruction, but this felt like academic totalitarianism. It was very clear that physicians of the DHB were expected to fall in line with the Ministry of Health dogma and not ask any questions. After this bizarre meeting, I began taking a critical look at the data in support of water fluoridation and found it really unimpressive in terms of controlling tooth decay.

Dental caries rates have been falling for decades without any apparent relationship to community water fluoridation status, mostly related to brushing with fluoridated toothpaste. Both sides of the debate agree on this point. There is also mutual agreement that fluoride toothpaste is toxic if swallowed and one must actually have teeth to derive benefit (babies are therefore at risk of toxicity from fluoridated drinking water).

America’s obsession with fluoridation (and their fluoride induced brain damage) might explain the US’s dubious political choices over the past 25 years and reckless spending. America has more people on fluoride than the rest of the world combined. The practice of water fluoridation has been abandoned in most of Europe. Importantly, countries that have stopped the practice have not seen an escalation in caries, nor have the cities in New Zealand that have abandoned fluoridation. To continue to prescribe a medication that is not really doing any good and potentially toxic, would seem to be outright medical quackery. And it is time for the Ministry of Health to admit it.

Clearly, fluoride is being used with medicinal intent, not prescribed by a doctor with knowledge of the patient. As well, it is clearly not with the consent of all receiving it, therefore it is medically unethical. There is clear evidence that many, if not most people, may be harmed by it.