Health authorities have confirmed they are investigating the spinal manipulation of a two-week-old boy by a Melbourne chiropractor.
A Melbourne
chiropractor who was filmed manipulating the spine of a two-week-old baby will be investigated by two national professional bodies after being referred by the Victorian health minister.
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The video of Andrew Arnold working on the child attracted national attention and was condemned by minister Jenny Mikakos as "extremely disturbing".
On Thursday she confirmed she had heard back from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and Chiropractic Board of Australia a day after referring the practitioner.
"They are investigating this matter and in fact I have invited them to meet with me and I will be meeting with both the chairperson of the Chiropractic Board of Australia and the CEO of AHPRA next week," she told reporters.
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"I'm concerned by this particular case but I also want to ensure there aren't other chiropractors around Australia who are similarly undertaking these types of practices.
"It's very important that the (board) does issue very clear advice to all chiropractors in Australia about the inherent risks associated with these types of practices."
Cranbourne Family Chiropractic has since shut down its Facebook page where the video was posted in August.
It also showed Mr Arnold using an instrument to deliver a controlled impulse on the baby's neck and back, causing it to scream.
One of the baby's parents is believed to be off-camera as Mr Arnold talks through the consultation and warns "he (the baby) is going to squawk a bit".
Mr Arnold and the clinic have been contacted for comment.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Harry Nespolon has called on government authorities to ban the practice.
"The government must start looking at this very carefully and decide whether or not they think it is okay to perform this treatment on a baby."
The Chiropractic Board of Australia said it was aware of the videos but would not comment on Mr Arnold's actions.
