Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

Subject: Urgent Request to Update Clinical Guidelines Regarding Second-Generation Agent Orange (TCDD) Exposure

Dear Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care,

I am writing to bring to your attention an urgent need for the review and update of clinical guidelines and standards of practice concerning the recognition and management of second-generation exposure to Agent Orange (TCDD).

Current clinical protocols and guidelines do not adequately reflect the extensive international research demonstrating the serious health risks and birth defects linked to second-generation TCDD exposure. This gap in healthcare standards leads to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and ongoing harm to affected individuals.

I respectfully urge the Commission to:

Review and incorporate current international research on second-generation Agent Orange exposure into clinical guidelines and standards of practice.

Develop clear protocols for healthcare practitioners to identify, diagnose, and manage health conditions related to second-generation exposure.

Support education and training initiatives to raise awareness among medical professionals about these issues.

Ensuring that healthcare standards keep pace with emerging scientific evidence is vital to protecting the health and wellbeing of all Australians, particularly those affected by TCDD exposure.

I am the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and have lived my entire life with multiple birth defects and chronic conditions consistent with second-generation TCDD exposure—yet for decades, my medical history has been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or ignored.

My case highlights a systemic failure to uphold obligations under the Stockholm Convention, which requires governments to prevent harm from persistent organic pollutants like TCDD and protect future generations from their toxic legacy.

I am also requesting that you review the actions of the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA), whose failure to update Statements of Principles to reflect second-generation harms from TCDD exposure represents a serious neglect of evolving scientific evidence and undermines the rights of affected individuals like myself—who didn’t sign up for war but became a casualty of war.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I welcome the opportunity to provide further information or collaborate on improving healthcare practices in this area.

Further evidence, including international studies and medical documentation, can be found at: https://agentorangechild.wixsite.com/agent-orange-child.

Warm Agent Orange Burns regards,

Danielle Stevens

Oh 0411838313

We will always be a child of a Vietnam Veteran

https://agentorangechild.wixsite.com/agent-orange-child

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Safety and Quality Advice Centre

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

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