By Brendan Rees
A chiropractor from a Cranbourne clinic who disturbingly appeared to hold a baby upside down in a video has agreed to enter an undertaking which prevents him from working with children.
It comes after shocking images surfaced on Facebook which appeared to show Dr Andrew Arnold manipulating the back of a two-week old using a spring-loaded device, and repeatedly tapping the bub’s head.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Chiropractic Board of Australia accepted an undertaking offered by Dr Arnold which will restrict his practice at the Cranbourne Family Chiropractic Clinic.
Dr Arnold entered an agreement on 21 February not to treat children from birth to 12 years. This includes not publishing any material that relates to the assessment of children.
In a statement, an AHPRA spokesperson said the Chiropractic Board of Australia accepted, as part of an interim action process by the Board, an undertaking offered by Dr Arnold.
“This restricts the practitioner’s practice, while AHPRA and the Board investigates,” the spokesperson said.
“An undertaking is legally binding. A breach of an undertaking may be the subject of regulatory action.”
“We are not able to comment any further about our investigation, because our processes must be fair, and the national law prevents us from commenting on any individual health practitioners or matters beyond what is on the public register.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described the images from Facebook, which has since been removed, as “very confronting” and backed the AHPRA to investigate. “We only want the very best health care, and want people mainly practicing what is appropriate,” he said.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said as a parent the images were “disturbing.”
“I think it’s appropriate that this practice should be investigated by the relevant health authorities,” Mr O’Brien said.
Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos said the Chiropractic Board of Australia “must condemn this practice as unprofessional and unacceptable, and AHPRA must act quickly to stop these rouge practitioners in their tracks.”
Victorian branch president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Julian Rait said studies have shown infant manipulation to be ineffective.
“For a benign disorder like colic is, for people to be offering spinal manipulation is quite inappropriate. It’s all risks and no benefits,” he said.
Mr Rait said in 2007 studies identified 14 cases of “direct adverse events” involving neurological musculoskeletal problems.
“I don’t think in this particular case the practitioner was particularly vigorous or likely causing harm but it’s just the concept has been brought into question and so therefore you have to ask ‘should anybody be offering spinal manipulation?’
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Harry Nespolon said there was “absolutely no evidence” that spinal manipulation on a baby would help with colic or to settle babies, and advised parents to visit is their GP, not a chiropractor.
“Babies experiencing symptoms such as colic are normal babies, and in most instances will simply grow out of it with no need for medical intervention,” he said.
“I would strongly recommend the chiropractic board to reconsider their stance on this practice being acceptable when there is no comprehensive evidence that it provides any benefit.”
Cranbourne Family Chiropractic Clinic did not wish to comment on the matter.
