Specialist Medical Review Council

Declarations

Section 196W
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

Re: Statements of Principles Nos. 53 and 54 of 2014 in respect of Malignant Neoplasm of the Prostate

Request for Review Declaration No. 30

1. In relation to the RMA Statements of Principles No.53 malignant neoplasm of the prostate made under subsections 196B of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA), Specialist Medical Review Council (the Council) under subsection 196W(5) of the VEA:

DECLARES that there is insufficient sound medical-scientific evidence on which the RMA could have relied to amend the Statements of Principles to include factor/s for smoking cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products and the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the prostate.

2.      In relation to the Repatriation Medical Authority (the RMA) Statement of Principles No. 54 concerning malignant neoplasm of the prostate, made under subsection 196B of the VEA, the Council:

DECLARES under subsection 196W(5) of the VEA, that there is insufficient sound medical-scientific evidence on which the RMA could have relied to amend the Statements of Principles to include factor(s) for smoking cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products and the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the prostate; and

DECLARES , under subsection 196W(4)(c) that there is sufficient sound medical-scientific evidence on which the RMA could have relied to amend the Statements of Principles to include factor(s) for smoking cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products and the clinical worsening of malignant neoplasm of the prostate; and

REMITS and DIRECTS under subsection 196W(4)(d) the RMA to characterise a factor concerning smoking cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products and the clinical worsening of malignant neoplasm of the prostate, taking into account whatever new information has become available since the SoPs were determined in 2014, and having particular regard to determining evidence-based thresholds for pack-years smoked, and where smoking has ceased, for years since smoking cessation.