Latest news with #NationalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncil
The Advertiser
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
New tool to improve diagnosis of lifelong condition
New guidelines will help to reduce stigma and improve access to diagnosis and services for a lifelong disability in Australia, researchers say. Arising from prenatal exposure to alcohol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause difficulties with attention, learning and memory, communication and behavioural and emotional regulation. The condition was typically diagnosed in specialists clinics, often based in metropolitan areas and families faced long waits for an assessment, University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre senior fellow and clinical psychologist Natasha Reid said. But after years of work, researchers, led by Dr Reid, have developed the first guidelines in the space to be approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr Reid said she hoped the guidelines would mean more practitioners across the country felt comfortable to be involved in assessing the condition. "These guidelines are of a really high standard," she told AAP. "We hope what that means is that they're more trustworthy for clinicians and we'll have more clinicians who are wanting to take these guidelines into clinical practice. "What that means for people with FASD is there's more access to services because that's still a challenge for a lot of people." Researchers reviewed more than 300 research papers and consulted health professionals, cultural experts, families and carers of people with the disorder over a four-year period. "The really challenging thing in this space is that internationally there's no agreed set of diagnostic criteria for FASD," Dr Reid said. "So what we've tried to do here is really have evidence-based diagnostic criteria as part of these guidelines." Dr Reid said having better access to diagnosis and assessment processes would reduce stigma and improve the lives of people with the condition. "The primary use of these guidelines are for health professionals but we also hope the guidelines can provide information to people about what is involved in an assessment, and help raise more awareness," she said. "A big thing we want to do is reduce stigma around FASD, making it so it doesn't matter where you go to access services, it can just be considered a part of routine assessments that are provided in those settings." More than 40 organisations were involved in the development of guidelines. New guidelines will help to reduce stigma and improve access to diagnosis and services for a lifelong disability in Australia, researchers say. Arising from prenatal exposure to alcohol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause difficulties with attention, learning and memory, communication and behavioural and emotional regulation. The condition was typically diagnosed in specialists clinics, often based in metropolitan areas and families faced long waits for an assessment, University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre senior fellow and clinical psychologist Natasha Reid said. But after years of work, researchers, led by Dr Reid, have developed the first guidelines in the space to be approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr Reid said she hoped the guidelines would mean more practitioners across the country felt comfortable to be involved in assessing the condition. "These guidelines are of a really high standard," she told AAP. "We hope what that means is that they're more trustworthy for clinicians and we'll have more clinicians who are wanting to take these guidelines into clinical practice. "What that means for people with FASD is there's more access to services because that's still a challenge for a lot of people." Researchers reviewed more than 300 research papers and consulted health professionals, cultural experts, families and carers of people with the disorder over a four-year period. "The really challenging thing in this space is that internationally there's no agreed set of diagnostic criteria for FASD," Dr Reid said. "So what we've tried to do here is really have evidence-based diagnostic criteria as part of these guidelines." Dr Reid said having better access to diagnosis and assessment processes would reduce stigma and improve the lives of people with the condition. "The primary use of these guidelines are for health professionals but we also hope the guidelines can provide information to people about what is involved in an assessment, and help raise more awareness," she said. "A big thing we want to do is reduce stigma around FASD, making it so it doesn't matter where you go to access services, it can just be considered a part of routine assessments that are provided in those settings." More than 40 organisations were involved in the development of guidelines. New guidelines will help to reduce stigma and improve access to diagnosis and services for a lifelong disability in Australia, researchers say. Arising from prenatal exposure to alcohol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause difficulties with attention, learning and memory, communication and behavioural and emotional regulation. The condition was typically diagnosed in specialists clinics, often based in metropolitan areas and families faced long waits for an assessment, University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre senior fellow and clinical psychologist Natasha Reid said. But after years of work, researchers, led by Dr Reid, have developed the first guidelines in the space to be approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr Reid said she hoped the guidelines would mean more practitioners across the country felt comfortable to be involved in assessing the condition. "These guidelines are of a really high standard," she told AAP. "We hope what that means is that they're more trustworthy for clinicians and we'll have more clinicians who are wanting to take these guidelines into clinical practice. "What that means for people with FASD is there's more access to services because that's still a challenge for a lot of people." Researchers reviewed more than 300 research papers and consulted health professionals, cultural experts, families and carers of people with the disorder over a four-year period. "The really challenging thing in this space is that internationally there's no agreed set of diagnostic criteria for FASD," Dr Reid said. "So what we've tried to do here is really have evidence-based diagnostic criteria as part of these guidelines." Dr Reid said having better access to diagnosis and assessment processes would reduce stigma and improve the lives of people with the condition. "The primary use of these guidelines are for health professionals but we also hope the guidelines can provide information to people about what is involved in an assessment, and help raise more awareness," she said. "A big thing we want to do is reduce stigma around FASD, making it so it doesn't matter where you go to access services, it can just be considered a part of routine assessments that are provided in those settings." More than 40 organisations were involved in the development of guidelines. New guidelines will help to reduce stigma and improve access to diagnosis and services for a lifelong disability in Australia, researchers say. Arising from prenatal exposure to alcohol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause difficulties with attention, learning and memory, communication and behavioural and emotional regulation. The condition was typically diagnosed in specialists clinics, often based in metropolitan areas and families faced long waits for an assessment, University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre senior fellow and clinical psychologist Natasha Reid said. But after years of work, researchers, led by Dr Reid, have developed the first guidelines in the space to be approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr Reid said she hoped the guidelines would mean more practitioners across the country felt comfortable to be involved in assessing the condition. "These guidelines are of a really high standard," she told AAP. "We hope what that means is that they're more trustworthy for clinicians and we'll have more clinicians who are wanting to take these guidelines into clinical practice. "What that means for people with FASD is there's more access to services because that's still a challenge for a lot of people." Researchers reviewed more than 300 research papers and consulted health professionals, cultural experts, families and carers of people with the disorder over a four-year period. "The really challenging thing in this space is that internationally there's no agreed set of diagnostic criteria for FASD," Dr Reid said. "So what we've tried to do here is really have evidence-based diagnostic criteria as part of these guidelines." Dr Reid said having better access to diagnosis and assessment processes would reduce stigma and improve the lives of people with the condition. "The primary use of these guidelines are for health professionals but we also hope the guidelines can provide information to people about what is involved in an assessment, and help raise more awareness," she said. "A big thing we want to do is reduce stigma around FASD, making it so it doesn't matter where you go to access services, it can just be considered a part of routine assessments that are provided in those settings." More than 40 organisations were involved in the development of guidelines.
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
New tool to improve diagnosis of lifelong condition
New guidelines will help to reduce stigma and improve access to diagnosis and services for a lifelong disability in Australia, researchers say. Arising from prenatal exposure to alcohol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause difficulties with attention, learning and memory, communication and behavioural and emotional regulation. The condition was typically diagnosed in specialists clinics, often based in metropolitan areas and families faced long waits for an assessment, University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre senior fellow and clinical psychologist Natasha Reid said. But after years of work, researchers, led by Dr Reid, have developed the first guidelines in the space to be approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr Reid said she hoped the guidelines would mean more practitioners across the country felt comfortable to be involved in assessing the condition. "These guidelines are of a really high standard," she told AAP. "We hope what that means is that they're more trustworthy for clinicians and we'll have more clinicians who are wanting to take these guidelines into clinical practice. "What that means for people with FASD is there's more access to services because that's still a challenge for a lot of people." Researchers reviewed more than 300 research papers and consulted health professionals, cultural experts, families and carers of people with the disorder over a four-year period. "The really challenging thing in this space is that internationally there's no agreed set of diagnostic criteria for FASD," Dr Reid said. "So what we've tried to do here is really have evidence-based diagnostic criteria as part of these guidelines." Dr Reid said having better access to diagnosis and assessment processes would reduce stigma and improve the lives of people with the condition. "The primary use of these guidelines are for health professionals but we also hope the guidelines can provide information to people about what is involved in an assessment, and help raise more awareness," she said. "A big thing we want to do is reduce stigma around FASD, making it so it doesn't matter where you go to access services, it can just be considered a part of routine assessments that are provided in those settings." More than 40 organisations were involved in the development of guidelines.
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
New tool to improve diagnosis of lifelong condition
New guidelines will help to reduce stigma and improve access to diagnosis and services for a lifelong disability in Australia, researchers say. Arising from prenatal exposure to alcohol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause difficulties with attention, learning and memory, communication and behavioural and emotional regulation. The condition was typically diagnosed in specialists clinics, often based in metropolitan areas and families faced long waits for an assessment, University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre senior fellow and clinical psychologist Natasha Reid said. But after years of work, researchers, led by Dr Reid, have developed the first guidelines in the space to be approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr Reid said she hoped the guidelines would mean more practitioners across the country felt comfortable to be involved in assessing the condition. "These guidelines are of a really high standard," she told AAP. "We hope what that means is that they're more trustworthy for clinicians and we'll have more clinicians who are wanting to take these guidelines into clinical practice. "What that means for people with FASD is there's more access to services because that's still a challenge for a lot of people." Researchers reviewed more than 300 research papers and consulted health professionals, cultural experts, families and carers of people with the disorder over a four-year period. "The really challenging thing in this space is that internationally there's no agreed set of diagnostic criteria for FASD," Dr Reid said. "So what we've tried to do here is really have evidence-based diagnostic criteria as part of these guidelines." Dr Reid said having better access to diagnosis and assessment processes would reduce stigma and improve the lives of people with the condition. "The primary use of these guidelines are for health professionals but we also hope the guidelines can provide information to people about what is involved in an assessment, and help raise more awareness," she said. "A big thing we want to do is reduce stigma around FASD, making it so it doesn't matter where you go to access services, it can just be considered a part of routine assessments that are provided in those settings." More than 40 organisations were involved in the development of guidelines.
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Woman gave birth to stranger's baby after IVF mix-up - could it happen again?
The news of a woman unknowingly giving birth to another patient's baby after an embryo mix-up at a Brisbane IVF lab has made headlines in Australia and around the world. The distress this incident will have caused to everyone involved is undoubtedly significant. A report released by Monash IVF, the company which operates the Brisbane clinic, states it 'adheres to strict laboratory safety measures (including multi-step identification processes) to safeguard and protect the embryos in its care'. It also says the company's own initial investigation concluded the incident was 'the result of human error'. An independent investigation will follow which presumably will shed light on how human error could occur when multi-step identification processes are in place. On a broader level, this incident raises questions about how common IVF errors are and to what extent they're preventable. The booming IVF industry Because people have children later in life than they used to, some struggle to conceive and turn to assisted reproductive technologies. These include in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) which both involve handling of sperm and eggs (gametes) in the laboratory to form embryos. If there's more than one embryo available after a treatment cycle, they can be frozen and stored for later use. Increasingly, assisted reproductive technologies are also being used by single women, same-sex couples, and women who freeze their eggs to preserve their fertility. For these reasons, the fertility industry is booming. In 2022 there were more than 100,000 assisted reproductive treatment cycles performed in Australian fertility clinics, up more than 25 per cent on the number of cycles performed in 2017. Regulation of the IVF industry In Australia, the IVF industry is more regulated than in many other parts of the world. To operate, clinics must be licensed by the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee and adhere to its code of practice. In relation to storage and accurate identification of embryos, the code states clinics must provide evidence of the implementation and review of: 'Policies and procedures to identify when, how and by whom the identification, matching, and verification are recorded for gametes, embryos and patients at all stages of the treatment process including digital and manual record-keeping.' The code further states clinics must report serious adverse events to the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee. The list of what's considered a serious adverse event includes any incident that 'arises from a gamete or embryo identification mix up'. Clinics must also adhere to the National Health and Medical Research Council's ethical guidelines on the use of reproductive technology in clinical practice and research. Lastly, states and territories have laws that regulate aspects of the IVF industry, such as requirements to report adverse events and other data to state authorities. In the United Kingdom, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority regulates the IVF industry and requires clinics to report adverse incidents. These are reported as grade A, B or C, where A is the most serious and involves 'severe harm to one person, or major harm to many'. Data on adverse incidents is reported in a publicly available annual report. In the United States, however, the IVF industry is largely unregulated, and clinics don't have to report adverse incidents. However, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine states clinics should have rigorous procedures to prevent the loss, damage, or misdirection of gametes and embryos and have an ethical obligation to disclose errors to all impacted patients. How common are IVF errors? There's no global data on IVF errors so it's not possible to know how common they are. But we learn about some of the more serious incidents when they're reported in the media. While the recent embryo mix-up is the first known incident of this nature in Australia's 40-year IVF history, we have seen reports of other errors in Australian clinics. These include the alleged use of the wrong donor sperm, embryos being destroyed due to contamination, and inaccurate genetic testing which resulted in the destruction of potentially viable embryos. In the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's most recent report states there was one Grade A incident in 2023–24. This was the first Grade A incident reported since 2019–20 when there were two. In the US, some notable errors include storage tank malfunctions in two clinics which destroyed thousands of eggs and embryos. Lawsuits have also been filed for embryo mix-ups. In a 2023 case, a woman from Georgia delivered a Black baby even though she and her sperm donor are both white. The biological parents subsequently demanded custody of the child. Despite wanting to raise him, the woman who had given birth gave up the five-month-old boy to avoid a legal fight she couldn't win, she said. In the US, some argue most errors go unreported because reporting is not mandated and due to the absence of meaningful regulation. Are IVF errors preventable? Despite Australia's stringent regulation and oversight of the IVF industry, an incident with far-reaching psychological and potentially legal consequences has occurred. Until the independent investigation reveals how 'human error' caused this mix-up, it's not possible to say what additional measures Monash IVF should take to ensure this never happens again. An IVF laboratory is a high-pressure environment, and any investigation should look at whether staffing levels are adequate. Staff training is also relevant, and it's essential all junior lab staff have adequate supervision. Finally, perhaps Australia should adopt the UK's model and make data about adverse events reported to the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee available to the public in an annual report. To reassure the public, this report could include what measures clinics take to avoid the errors happening again. Karin Hammarberg is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in Global and Women's Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine at Monash University.
