Statement of Principles concerning photocontact dermatitis No. 63 of 1997 (Cth)

Instrument No.63 of 1997

Determination

of

Statement of Principles

concerning

PHOTOCONTACT DERMATITIS

ICD CODE:692.72

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

1. This Statement of Principles is determined by the Repatriation Medical Authority under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act).

Kind of injury, disease or death

1. (a)       This Statement of Principles is about photocontact dermatitis    and death from photocontact dermatitis.

(b)       For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, “photocontact dermatitis” means phototoxic contact dermatitis or photoallergic contact dermatitis, which describe inflammation of an area of the skin due to a particular substance coming in contact with that part of the skin whilst that same part of skin is exposed to light, attracting an ICD code of 692.72.  This definition excludes photocontact-type dermatitis due to ingesting a substance and exposing the affected skin to light.

Basis for determining the factors

1. The Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that photocontact dermatitis and death from photocontact dermatitis can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans, members of Peacekeeping Forces, or members of the Forces.

Factors that must be related to service

1. Subject to clause 6, at least one of the factors set out in clause 5 must be related to any relevant service rendered by the person.

Factors

1. The factors that must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting photocontact dermatitis or death from photocontact dermatitis with the circumstances of a person’s relevant service are:

(a)        exposure of the affected area of skin to a phototoxic agent and light simultaneously within the six hours immediately before the clinical onset of photocontact dermatitis; or

(b)       exposure of the affected area of skin to a photoallergen and light simultaneously within the 5 days immediately before the clinical onset of photocontact dermatitis; or

(c)       suffering exposure of the affected area of skin to a phototoxic agent and light simultaneously within the six hours immediately before the clinical worsening of photocontact dermatitis; or

(d)       exposure of the affected area of skin to a photoallergen and light simultaneously within the 5 days immediately before the clinical worsening of photocontact dermatitis; or

(e)       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for photocontact  dermatitis.

Factors that apply only to material contribution or aggravation

1. Paragraphs 5(c) to 5(e) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, photocontact dermatitis where the person’s photocontact dermatitis was suffered or contracted before or during (but not arising out of) the person’s relevant service; paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e), 70(5)(d) or 70(5A)(d) of the Act refers.

Other definitions

1. For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:

“ICD code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in the Australian Version of The International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), effective date of 1 July 1996, copyrighted by the National Coding Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, and having ISBN 0 642 24447 2;

“photoallergen” means a topical substance which, when applied to an area of skin which is simultaneously exposed to light, is capable of producing an immune response resulting in photoallergic contact dermatitis;

“photoallergic contact dermatitis” means a type of contact dermatitis which develops on an area of the skin which has been simultaneously exposed to a photoallergen and light;

“phototoxic agent” means a topical agent or substance, for example a chemical, which, when applied to an area of skin which is simultaneously exposed to light, causes dermatitis which is referred to as phototoxic contact dermatitis.  It does not include physical agents such as heat, cold solar radiation or other forms of radiation;

“phototoxic contact dermatitis” means a type of contact dermatitis which develops on an area of the skin which has been simultaneously exposed to a phototoxic agent and light;

“relevant service” means:

(a)       operational service; or

(b)       peacekeeping service; or

(c)       hazardous service.

Dated this       Ninth        day of              September         1997

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN