Every year approximately 40,000 new cases of thyroid disease are diagnosed in Australia. Of those 40,000 the vast majority are hypothyroid related illness.
Untreated hypothyroid symptoms will result in a systematic shutdown of the entire endocrine system involving extreme chronic pain, debilitating fatigue, impaired cognitive function and eventually coma then death.

The prevalent treatment for hypothyroidism is a synthetic prescription drug called Levothyroxine which replaces one of several hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Levothyroxine relies on the body’s ability to convert that hormone into what it needs to function effectively. While the vast majority of people respond favourably to this product, a percentage up to 14% do not because they are either allergic to the ingredients of Levothyroxine or resistant to the medication due to various biological reasons and their body cannot convert what it needs from the single hormone that Levothyroxine provides.
For these people desiccated thyroid extract which replaces ALL of the hormones needed for healthy thyroid function without relying on a conversion process is their only available option.
The Endocrinology Society of Australia (ESA) does not approve of desiccated thyroid extract, combinations of thyroid hormones, or triiodothyronine (T3) being used as thyroid replacement therapy, and recommend it comes under scrutiny of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). This could result in leaving those who do not respond to Levothyroxine with no form of viable medication if they exhibit a negative reaction to T4 replacement only.
I believe providing patients with only one form of medication and no alternative is in effect forcing them to choose between taking the only medication available that makes them extremely ill, or death, which is no choice at all and is a blatant violation of the Human Rights Act Circa 2004
Section 9: Right to life
(1) Everyone has the right to life. In particular, no-one may be arbitrarily deprived of life.
Also
Section 10: Protection from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment etc.
(1) No-one may be –
b. Treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way.
(2) No-one may be subjected to medical or scientific experimentation or treatment without his or her free consent. 

If, based on this recommendation desiccated thyroid products are restricted by the TGA, access to these effective medications will be denied to people who need them to live without debilitating hypothyroid symptoms. Some people who are currently being effectively treated with thyroid extract can apply for a Special Access Scheme and if successful can have it imported for personal use at a massively inflated cost (i.e. $200 for 100 days supply). This is not a cost that is bearable for the duration of ones lifetime and a restricted substance would not be covered by the PBS. Those who prove intolerant or resistant to the synthetic T4 and have not yet been prescribed thyroid extract risk not ever being able to access it via legal means.
This restriction would severely and detrimentally affect a great number of people who deserve the right to choose the medicine that works best for them.

One option is not an option.
Sign this petition to help us convince the The Medical Board of Australia and The Therapeutic Goods Administration to stop this injustice from happening!
We are prepared to take this all the way but we need your support in order to ensure that the continuing of unbearable symptoms or deaths of this minority should not be considered a justifiable loss as the marginal part of a majority statistic.