Department of Veteran Affairs Wants Me to Die

HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT) and the battle for continued life-saving treatment and advocacy for veterans and the public.

I’m terminal.

DVA wouldn't consider looking at HBOT originally, and it wasn't until the NDIS stated they would cover the treatment that they relented and asked for evidence. We can't have a veteran receive treatment paid for by the NDIS when it should be covered by DVA.

After receiving approved treatment by DVA, they have unjustifiably and illegally stopped further treatment for myself, a terminal patient that is seeing reversal of my conditions, healing the wounds on the brain, mind and soul and giving a quality of life to myself and my family.

Also, therefore denying the entitlement and opportunity of treatment for veterans and the public.

They have pulled continuation of treatment, after stage one base treatment (120 hours of treatment), knowing that stopping now, I will regress and DIE and have even stated that "They don't care". They have stated that your specialist can submit an application for the continuation of treatment but regardless, it will NOT be approved due to NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE to support your condition.

1: To have the treatment approved in the first instance, we had to supply all supporting documentation to DVA head medical, of which they approved in under two days and I quote from the head doctor: "This is game-changing, I honestly believe this will save your life".

2: They have not asked for the result of the 120 hrs of approved HBOT treatment and medical documentation of improvement of my condition. Is that in itself, not scientific EVIDENCE that it works? I'm alive and my progression is astounding the medical community, here in Australia and Internationally.

3. This is a form of treatment that, used with a medical specialist and adjunct to other treatments, is applicable to thousands of veterans and also extremely cost-effective and money-saving for the department and the government.

4. My current treatment requirement at present for continuation is 3-4 sessions a week if a chamber is located in Wagga (available for other veterans) or I need to attend 3 days of treatment every 2 weeks in Melbourne (500km from my home).

It is estimated that in order to achieve the point of healing and not regressing, it will be at least a year (approximately).

The below evidence (links) had been originally provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs and/was approved by the DVA head medical doctor and baseline treatment of 120 hours was conducted. As a result, we saw dramatic improvement, not seen in any person with my stage of conditions.

This has been followed closely by international medical committees and the Australian medical community.

Scientific evidence links HBOT and documentation that supports my treatment and is approved internationally. Also attached is the US Congress Bill that has been passed in the US senate. The Israelis and the US are the leaders in the treatment of HBOT for veterans, and used in conjunction with other therapies, treats over 70 conditions. Especially in my case, Traumatic Brain Injuries, PTSD, Hypoxia, Cardiovascular and Respiratory failure, Dementia and Parkinsonism.

Links to treatment and evidence, from the OXYMED website.

1. HBOT FOR MILITARY VETERANS

https://www.oxymed.com.au/military-veterans

2. List of conditions that HBOT treats and is all peer-reviewed and published with the medical literature

https://www.oxymed.com.au/oxymed-heal-the-warriors

3. MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD:

HBOT and the Department of Veterans of Affairs

https://www.oxymed.com.au/copy-of-oxymed-heal-the-warriors

4. U.S House of Representative BILL

https://www.oxymed.com.au/house-of-representatives

5. HBOT and Veteran Suicide

https://www.oxymed.com.au/empower-veterans-end-suicide

Wound Healing.

The use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) addresses directly this negative cascade of damage and degeneration both in the acute phase of wound stabilization and in the acute and chronic phases of wound healing. In treating brain injuries, PTSD and other co-morbidities, the principles of wound healing must be applied before all the behavioural, cognitive, emotional and physical interventions can be maximized. This calls for integrated conversations among all mental health and brain-wound specialists from the time a veteran or military member present for help, particularly if they are combat veterans

Consider the known benefits of using HBOT for wound healing:

• Decreasing levels of inflammatory biochemicals
• Increased oxygenation to functioning mitochondria
• Increases in blood flow independent of new blood vessel formation
• Angiogenesis from the addition of oxygen: (growth of new blood vessels in the acute and chronic phases)
• Up-regulation of key antioxidant enzymes and decreasing oxidative stress
• Increased production of new mitochondria (the energy factories of the cells)
• Neurogenesis: (growth of new neuronal tissue and Remyelination during and after the treatments are completed)
• Bypassing functionally impaired hemoglobin molecules, the result of abnormal porphyrin production, thereby allowing increased delivery of oxygen directly to cells
• Improvement in immune and autoimmune system disorder
• Direct production of stem cells in the brain
• Increases in the production of stem cells in the bone marrow with transfer to the Central Nervous System

The validity of using HBOT for healing the wound to the brain is validated in the most recent research [Attached HBOT Research and Science]. Unsurprisingly, delivering oxygen under pressure safely and economically leads to effective wound healing. And numerous other interventions for comorbid maladies have a much better chance of effectiveness when the concussion cascade is interrupted and reversed.

This treatment in terms of purchase of an HBOT Chamber (Single person) retail is approximately $150,000 (broad high figure) and can treat 60-150 people a year. My medical costings for myself (DVA costings), not including current HBOT treatment is over $200,000. The price of one HBOT unit, in hospitals, military bases, etc. can treat 100 veterans for the price of one veteran, without drugs.

Costings of treatment provided by OXYMED or a Hospital would have to be discussed with DVA but a session is around $100 - $150

Without the continuation of this proven treatment, I will die.