Crackdown on child chiropractic treatment after shocking footage

After the Herald Sun revealed shocking footage of a Cranbourne chiropractor treating a baby just two weeks old, Victoria will now spearhead a national push for tough laws on the treatment of kids.

Victoria is spearheading a national push for tough laws banning chiropractors from manipulating children’s spines.

Federal and state health ministers have agreed to act after the Herald Sun revealed shocking footage of a chiropractor treating a baby just two weeks old.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, who described the vision as “deeply disturbing”, is understood to be concerned that regulators have not already moved to stamp out the worrying practice.

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She has now ordered an ­independent review by Safer Care Victoria, which will shape the national approach.

“I will not rest until I can be confident Victorian newborn babies are protected from practices we know to be harmful, and that we can be sure children under 12 are not being exposed to harm,” Ms Mikakos told the Herald Sun.

Health ministers met last Friday in the wake of revelations that dozens of chiropractors were secretly discussing their treatment of children.

Cranbourne’s Dr Andrew Arnold has been barred from treating children under 12 after he was filmed holding an infant upside down.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos described the vision as “deeply disturbing”.

Cranbourne’s Dr Andrew Arnold has been barred from treating children under 12 after he was filmed holding an infant upside down, tapping it on the head, and using a spring-loaded device on its spine.

The health ministers said they “noted community ­concerns about the unsafe spinal manipulation on children performed by chiropractors and agreed that public protection was paramount”.

Ms Mikakos said she had asked the Chiropractic Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to “ban this dangerous practice”.

“The experts know the risk of undertaking spinal manipulations on newborn babies far outweighs any perceived benefits,” she said.

“It became clear we needed a national approach and that may involve changes to the law if necessary.”

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Harry Nespolon has been among those to call for authorities to ban the chiropractic treatment of babies, describing the footage obtained by the Herald Sun as “horrifying”.

The Victorian review will consult chiropractors, paediatric orthopaedic surgeons, paediatric neurosurgeons, independent consumer representatives, and patient safety representatives.

It will report back to the COAG Health Council, which will then decide on what reforms are necessary.

The federal and state health ministers are also considering increasing penalties for chiropractors who flout laws regarding advertising.

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