Federal Member for Swan and Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives Health and Ageing Committee Steve Irons MP has sought to initiate an Inquiry into the circumstances of thousands of Australians who have contracted the debilitating disease Arachnoiditis after receiving a spinal injection of the chemical dye pantopaque in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Pantopaque, which was removed from the market in the late 1980s, was used as a contrast medium to help visualise structures in the body.  The spinal injection of the dye has been linked to the onset of Arachnoiditis in thousands of Australians

A devastating disease, Arachnoiditis varies considerably in terms of symptoms and severity.  In many people it affects the nerves running into the back and lower legs.  The most common symptom is pain but arachnoiditis can also cause:

• Tingling, numbness or weakness in the legs
• Sensations that may feel like insects crawling on the skin or water trickling down the leg
• Severe  shooting pain that can be similar to an electric shock sensation
• Muscle cramps, spasms and uncontrollable twitching
• Bladder, bowel and/or sexual dysfunction 

Member for Swan Steve Irons said a Parliamentary Inquiry was needed to determine whether there was any wrong doing in the administration of this dye and whether the health authorities are adequately looking after sufferers across the country.

“It has been estimated that there are over 60,000 sufferers of arachnoiditis in Australia with 23 million sufferers worldwide.  Support groups have been established throughout the world.

“We owe it to the sufferers to properly examine how this dye was allowed to be administered in Australia and whether sufferers are being properly looked after by Australian Health Authorities.

“The symptoms are debilitating and for many it is a slow decline. 

“As the condition can take up to 20 years to develop, it is only now that the full extent of this issue is being realised” he added.

Mr Irons said the issue was brought to his attention by a local resident suffering from the disease.

“One of my constituents in Queens Park was injected with pantopaque in the 1970s at Rivervale Hospital.  He was later advised he had Arachnoiditis and has gone through steady decline, which he says will result in him being a paraplegic in the near future.

“I have been advocating on behalf of this constituent for some time.  He has run into some difficulties with Australian health authorities.  None, including the Minister, have been able to provide him with adequate advice.  As such, I have also kept the Commonwealth Ombudsman fully informed” he added.

Mr Irons said, as Deputy Chair, he had written to the House of Representatives Health and Ageing Committee Secretary and spoken to Chairman Steve Georganas MP.  The Committee has given positive signs that this will be seriously considered when it determines its next major Inquiry.