the bennymay story: chapter 9

Trust me; I’m from the government

The Defence Minister, Robert Hill, maintained yesterday that there was no danger. “There have been some service personnel that have been reluctant to be vaccinated, which I don’t quite understand because I am advised that it’s a perfectly safe vaccination,” he told ABC Radio. (13 February 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/12/1044927665050.html)

Ron tells us the vaccines he is giving us are safe.

‘A description of side effects from the various vaccinations and an indication of their incidence are provided with each vaccine in the ‘Handbook’. The drug information sheets supplied with vaccines by manufacturers, also have information on expected side effects from each individual vaccine,‘(ADFP 702, paragraph 3.24). Vaccinating has some risk of side effects. The RAAF Doctors and other DHS staff have access to information on the risks of vaccines.

‘All members are to be briefed on the risks and benefits associated with all vaccinations and …‘ (ADFP 702 paragraph 2.8; emphasis added).

‘The vaccine-provider should allow time for a discussion with the individual to ensure that the issue of risk has been addressed. As with any medical intervention, the doctor/ nurse should make a note in the clinical records that such a discussion has taken place prior to the person giving consent,‘ (Handbook, paragraph 1.3).

Regarding the ‘complete information on dosages, frequency and routes of administration, contraindications and potential side effects from vaccines…‘ ADFP 702, paragraph 5.1, states that ‘All Defence Health Service (DHS) staff are to fully acquaint themselves with this information before administering any vaccines… Mistakes are easily made when staff assume that they know all there is to know about vaccines.‘

‘If a doctor or nurse fully informs the parents or person to be vaccinated of the likely side effects of vaccination and the parents agree after understanding the possible consequences of vaccination, it would seem highly unlikely that a successful litigation could be carried out, even if complications arose. To ensure a person has enough information to make an informed choice, both the risks from being vaccinated and the risk from not being vaccinated should be discussed,‘ (Handbook, Q 6.3, Can doctors be sued after giving a vaccine?, page 263).

Ron does not give us (Officer Training School course 19-20/1998) a copy of those drug information sheets mentioned in ADFP 702. Ron does not allow time to discuss those documents that he does not share with us. Ron fails to brief us on those many risks of side effects. Ron tells us that the vaccines are safe—oh, perhaps you will get a sore arm, but there’s nothing to worry about. Perhaps in the future (after February 1999) Ron will improve.

However, in my experience, Ron tells his pilots that vaccines are safe, but tells his medical staff vaccines carry innate, latent risks. And in 2003, the ADF is still proclaiming (to ABC radio’s audience) that vaccines are perfectly safe.

© Benjamin May 2009

(NB: Handbook and ADFP 702 quotes on this site are from 2002, unless stated.)

Go to chapter 10.
or,
Jump to Ronny RAAF’s investigation findings, including that ‘…it is likely that the member did not receive all the information relating to risks and contraindications…’, in chapter 72.