Therapeutic Goods Administration

Subject: Urgent Request for Regulatory Advice Update Regarding Second-Generation Agent Orange (TCDD) Exposure

Dear Therapeutic Goods Administration,

I am writing to urgently request that the TGA review and update its regulatory advice and guidance concerning the recognition and management of second-generation exposure to Agent Orange (TCDD).

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

I respectfully urge the TGA to:

Incorporate the latest international scientific evidence on second-generation Agent Orange exposure into your regulatory guidance for healthcare providers and industry.

Provide clear recommendations to support healthcare practitioners in identifying, diagnosing, and managing health conditions related to second-generation TCDD exposure.

Support initiatives for education and training that raise awareness among medical professionals about the impacts of second-generation exposure.

As the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, I have lived my entire life with multiple birth defects and chronic conditions consistent with second-generation TCDD exposure. Despite this, my medical history has been repeatedly dismissed or overlooked by healthcare providers.

This situation highlights a failure to uphold obligations under the Stockholm Convention, which requires governments to protect current and future generations from the harmful legacy of persistent organic pollutants like TCDD.

Additionally, I urge the TGA to consider the failure of the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) to update Statements of Principles regarding second-generation harms from TCDD exposure. This oversight undermines the rights of affected individuals like myself—who didn’t sign up for war but became a casualty of war.

Further evidence, including international studies and medical documentation, is available on my website: https://agentorangechild.wixsite.com/agent-orange-child.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I welcome any opportunity to provide further information or collaborate on improving regulatory advice and healthcare outcomes.

Warm Agent Orange Burns regards,