Statement of Principles concerning toxic retinopathy (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 20 of 2018) (Cth)

Statement of Principles concerning TOXIC RETINOPATHY (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 20 of 2018) The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

Dated 2 March 2018

The Common Seal of the Repatriation Medical Authority was affixed to this instrument at the direction of:

Professor Nicholas Saunders AO Chairperson

Contents 1 Name 2 Commencement 3 Authority 4 Revocation 5 Application 6 Definitions 7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates 8 Basis for determining the factors 9 Factors that must exist 10 Relationship to service 11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles Schedule 1 - Dictionary 1 Definitions

1 Name This is the Statement of Principles concerning toxic retinopathy (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 20 of 2018). 2 Commencement This instrument commences on 2 April 2018. 3 Authority This instrument is made under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. 4 Revocation The Statement of Principles concerning toxic maculopathy No. 40 of 2009 made under subsection 196B(3) of the VEA is revoked. 5 Application This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120B of the VEA or section 339 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies. 6 Definitions The terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument. 7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates (1) This Statement of Principles is about toxic retinopathy and death from toxic retinopathy. Meaning of toxic retinopathy (2) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, toxic retinopathy: (a) means pathological changes in the cells of the retina of the eye, in the presence of: (i) sustained vision impairment; and (ii) evidence from the history, physical examination, or diagnostic testing that the pathological changes are caused by a chemical agent; and (b) includes chemically induced chronic cystoid macular oedema, crystalline retinopathy, toxic maculopathy, and peripheral retinal degeneration that does not involve the macula; and (c) excludes toxic optic neuropathy, zonal occult outer retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal detachment and breaks, and retinal photodamage. Death from toxic retinopathy (3) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, toxic retinopathy, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's toxic retinopathy. Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary. 8 Basis for determining the factors On the sound medical‑scientific evidence available, the Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that it is more probable than not that toxic retinopathy and death from toxic retinopathy can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA. Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary. 9 Factors that must exist At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, toxic retinopathy or death from toxic retinopathy is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service: (1) being treated with a quinoline-based drug as specified, before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; Note: being treated with a quinoline-based drug as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (2) being treated with tamoxifen as specified within the one year before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; Note: being treated with tamoxifen as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (3) being treated with an intravitreal or subconjunctival aminoglycoside from the specified list of aminoglycosides, within the seven days before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; Note: specified list of aminoglycosides is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (4) being treated with intravitreal fomivirsen within the 30 days before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (5) being treated with intravenous deferoxamine within the seven days before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (6) being treated with the phenothiazine drugs chlorpromazine or thioridazine for a continuous period of at least the two weeks before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (7) being treated with daily clofazimine, at an average dose of at least 100 milligrams per day, for a continuous period of at least the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (8) being treated with ritonavir for a continuous period of at least the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (9) being treated with interferon for a continuous period of at least four weeks, within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (10) being treated with subcutaneous or intramuscular deferoxamine for a continuous period of at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (11) taking oral canthaxanthin supplements or tablets as specified within the five years before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; Note: taking oral canthaxanthin supplements or tablets as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (12) inhaling isopropyl nitrite within the two weeks before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (13) using an intravenous drug containing talc within the two years before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (14) for cystoid macular oedema only: (a) being treated with daily niacin for a continuous period of at least two weeks, at an average dose of at least 1.5 grams per day, within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; or (b) being treated with intravenous paclitaxel or docetaxel within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; Note: cystoid macular oedema is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (15) for cystoid macular oedema only, in an aphakic or pseudophakic eye only, being treated with topical adrenaline eye drops, within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; Note: cystoid macular oedema and aphakic or pseudophakic eye are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (16) inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for toxic retinopathy. 10 Relationship to service (1) The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 9, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person. (2) The factor set out in subsection 9(16) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, toxic retinopathy where the person's toxic retinopathy was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service. 11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles In this Statement of Principles: (1) if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; and (2) that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(3) of the VEA; then the factors in that Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles as in force from time to time.