So, Is There A Conspiracy To Cover Up The Truth?
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This article is from the Dental Amalgam FAQ, by anonymous.
So, Is There A Conspiracy To Cover Up The Truth?
Maybe - but I think one has to be careful with talk of conspiracy theories,
etc - too often the allegation is used, and it can backfire
on the user.
"Conspiracy" or "cock-up" is the question.
I believe that *systems* are the critical factors here, rather than
the behaviour af any individual. Remember the History - from
day #1, the ADA was set up as a system that represented
people who practiced & profited by placement of mercury
fillings. ([1] See Vimys text, etc). The *system* itself immediately
became & remained one that would only ever accept & promote to
high office those who were "pro-amalgam" - the pressures of the
system would effectively weed out people who had doubts
at an early stage.
Through good fortune the ADA became *the* official dental body
- but it was - and in reality remains - a dental "trade union".
If you remember the earlier posts on phsycology, [2] the pressure
to conform within such a group are very great - any individual
faced with the sort of radical-appearing challenges posed by
"anti-amalgamist" groups would find reassurance just by looking
to his respectable and learned colleagues - who would he trust
- those, or some unknown outsiders?
Remember that no conspiracy theory is needed for this hypothesis
- indeed the individuals by and large may well be intelligent, likable,
law-abiding people - it is just the "religion" of their group that blinds
them to the option of impartial judgement of the new evidence.
Remember also that most members rely on peer-reviewed/filtered
data - they do not have time to study original research themselves.
Everyone who challenges the religion is simply declared a
heritic - even to be persecuted. ie. In thier eyes Huggins is wrong
about Amalgam - they just see someone who is preying
on chronically ill people for financial gain. After all, doesnt he
charge huge fees for his service? His claims of "miracle"
cures must be mere fabrication - just another "snake-oil peddler"..
So, other researchers, dentists and doctors - previously
respected members of the scientific community - found themselves
accused of acting for narrow gain the moment they dared
question the "religion".
I have no doubt that there may also some people within the ADA who
are much more cynical, who may have doubts about the safety
of amalgam & try to act to protect narrow ADA financial/liability/credibility
interests. There are also too many dentists out there who deliberately
perform more amalgam-fillings than necessary, for financial gain.
(For that matter, I dont doubt that there are some who have leapt on the
"anti-amalgam-bandwagon" merely as an opportunity to make money
from ill people. )
There may well even be "conspiracy". But I am not sure you need it
to explain the action of most normal dentists in the ADA.
[1] http://www.vimy-dentistry.com/ (Dr Vimys page)
[2]
Soloman Asch did an experiment in conformity in which he placed three lines
of different lengths next to each other on a piece of paper. There was a
small line, a medium-length line, and a long line. The differences in
length were easily discernable to everyone. Then on another peice of paper
he printed just the medium-length line, and he asked a large group of
subjects, one at a time in isolation from each other, which of the three
lines was this? The perceptual judgement was so obvious and easy that
exactly 100% got the right answer: "It's the middle line". Then he put a
different group of subjects through a contrived experiment where they
stepped into a room full of 9 other people (unbeknownst to the subjects,
all 9 were accomplices working with Asch). The experimenter presented the
same two pages with lines and proceeded to ask everyone, one at a time in
order, which line was it? Our subject was #7 in line, and #1-6 all said,
"Its the shortest line, clearly!" "Yes, the short line" "The short one"
etc. What did our subject say, how did he act publicly? 35% of responses
conformed to the incorrect group answer. Relatively amazing given that the
perceptual judgement was as obvious as seeing an elephant in front of you.
Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire
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