Kia ora Heather

We acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request.

If we have any questions or need to seek clarification on any points we will be in touch soon. Otherwise, we will seek to respond to your request as soon as practicable and no later than 20 working days after the date your request was received (by 10 June 2021). If we are unable to respond to your requests by then, we will notify you of an extension of this timeframe.

Ngā mihi,
Vanessa Vidallon
For the Office of the Registrar

Corporate Records Services | Ngā Ratonga Kōrero Rangatōpū University of Otago | Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo Tel/Waea +64 3 479 7409

224 Hanover Street, Dunedin | Ōtepoti
PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054
New Zealand | Aotearoa

Email/Īmera [email address] Website/Pae tukutuku www.otago.ac.nz/records

-----Original Message-----
From: Heather Barker <[FOI #15437 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 12 May 2021 6:56 AM
To: University of Otago Registrar <[University of Otago request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Request for update on deaths and adverse reactions to statins in NZ

Dear University of Otago,

I would like an update on the status of adverse reactions to all brands of statins and cholesterol lowering medications in NZ, including fatalities in the period 2000 to present date May 2021.
I understand the method of reporting adverse reactions has reformed and changed over the years and accept the format may be different from one year to the next. 

It is now 19 years since Brian Barker was prescribed a statin, developed rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, stroke and permanent widespread muscular skeletal injury.

Statin deaths.

Previous investigations by myself several years ago, have confirmed CARM had 1709 reports describing statin adverse reactions.   21 cases resulted in an outcome of death however in 3 cases death was not related to the Statin medicine and 2 cases were unclassifiable .

"Statins are the recommended first-line lipid-lowering medicine in New Zealand and international guidelines." Quote from NZ website about best practice.

NZ Health Navigator website provides a fact sheet "The pros and cons of taking statins".

Table 2: Factors that increase your risk of severe muscle problems when taking statins.

Brian Barker had none of the listed risk factors yet continues to suffer from the initial injury in 2002.

It's 2021, on our frequent visits to doctors and hospitals most staff are apparently still unaware of the devastating potential impact of these medications for some people.
This fact is concerning.

Please supply the requested information regarding statin adverse reactions in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Heather Barker

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15437 email]

Is [University of Otago request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to University of Otago? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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Kia ora Heather

I refer to your information request dated 12 May 2021 made under the Official Information Act 1982 (Act).

The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working days after the day we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit. We are therefore writing to notify you, pursuant to s15A of the Act, of an extension of the time to make our decision in respect of your request, by a further 12 working days - to 25 June 2021. However, we will endeavour to respond to you sooner if possible.

This extension is necessary both (i) because your request necessitates a search through a large quantity of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with our operations and (ii) to allow for consultations necessary to make a decision on your request.

We are currently working on your response, but due to staff illnesses and managing urgent demands from the Ministry of Health, we require some additional time for us to complete our response. We thank you for your patience.

If you are not satisfied with our extension of time, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the OIA. However, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first.

Ngâ mihi
Mayhaka

Mayhaka Mendis • Manager, Policy and Compliance • Deputy Privacy Officer • Te Tari o Te Pouroki me te Kaituhi ki te Kaunihera, Office of the Registrar •Te Whare Wânanga o Ôtâkou, University of Otago • P.O Box 56, Dunedin • Tel +64 3 479 8993

-----Original Message-----
From: Heather Barker <[FOI #15437 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 12 May 2021 6:56 AM
To: University of Otago Registrar <[University of Otago request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Request for update on deaths and adverse reactions to statins in NZ

Dear University of Otago,

I would like an update on the status of adverse reactions to all brands of statins and cholesterol lowering medications in NZ, including fatalities in the period 2000 to present date May 2021.
I understand the method of reporting adverse reactions has reformed and changed over the years and accept the format may be different from one year to the next. 

It is now 19 years since Brian Barker was prescribed a statin, developed rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, stroke and permanent widespread muscular skeletal injury.

Statin deaths.

Previous investigations by myself several years ago, have confirmed CARM had 1709 reports describing statin adverse reactions.   21 cases resulted in an outcome of death however in 3 cases death was not related to the Statin medicine and 2 cases were unclassifiable .

"Statins are the recommended first-line lipid-lowering medicine in New Zealand and international guidelines." Quote from NZ website about best practice.

NZ Health Navigator website provides a fact sheet "The pros and cons of taking statins".

Table 2: Factors that increase your risk of severe muscle problems when taking statins.

Brian Barker had none of the listed risk factors yet continues to suffer from the initial injury in 2002.

It's 2021, on our frequent visits to doctors and hospitals most staff are apparently still unaware of the devastating potential impact of these medications for some people.
This fact is concerning.

Please supply the requested information regarding statin adverse reactions in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Heather Barker

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15437 email]

Is [University of Otago request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to University of Otago? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Heather

We refer to your information request dated 12 May 2021 made under the Official Information Act 1982.

Please see attached the information that you have requested.

Ngâ mihi
Mayhaka

Mayhaka Mendis • Manager, Policy and Compliance • Deputy Privacy Officer • Te Tari o Te Pouroki me te Kaituhi ki te Kaunihera, Office of the Registrar •Te Whare Wânanga o Ôtâkou, University of Otago • P.O Box 56, Dunedin • Tel +64 3 479 8993

-----Original Message-----
From: Manager Policy and Compliance
Sent: Wednesday, 9 June 2021 11:32 am
To: [FOI #15437 email]
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Request for update on deaths and adverse reactions to statins in NZ

Kia ora Heather

I refer to your information request dated 12 May 2021 made under the Official Information Act 1982 (Act).

The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working days after the day we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit. We are therefore writing to notify you, pursuant to s15A of the Act, of an extension of the time to make our decision in respect of your request, by a further 12 working days - to 25 June 2021. However, we will endeavour to respond to you sooner if possible.

This extension is necessary both (i) because your request necessitates a search through a large quantity of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with our operations and (ii) to allow for consultations necessary to make a decision on your request.

We are currently working on your response, but due to staff illnesses and managing urgent demands from the Ministry of Health, we require some additional time for us to complete our response. We thank you for your patience.

If you are not satisfied with our extension of time, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the OIA. However, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first.

Ngâ mihi
Mayhaka

Mayhaka Mendis • Manager, Policy and Compliance • Deputy Privacy Officer • Te Tari o Te Pouroki me te Kaituhi ki te Kaunihera, Office of the Registrar •Te Whare Wânanga o Ôtâkou, University of Otago • P.O Box 56, Dunedin • Tel +64 3 479 8993

-----Original Message-----
From: Heather Barker <[FOI #15437 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 12 May 2021 6:56 AM
To: University of Otago Registrar <[University of Otago request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Request for update on deaths and adverse reactions to statins in NZ

Dear University of Otago,

I would like an update on the status of adverse reactions to all brands of statins and cholesterol lowering medications in NZ, including fatalities in the period 2000 to present date May 2021.
I understand the method of reporting adverse reactions has reformed and changed over the years and accept the format may be different from one year to the next. 

It is now 19 years since Brian Barker was prescribed a statin, developed rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, stroke and permanent widespread muscular skeletal injury.

Statin deaths.

Previous investigations by myself several years ago, have confirmed CARM had 1709 reports describing statin adverse reactions.   21 cases resulted in an outcome of death however in 3 cases death was not related to the Statin medicine and 2 cases were unclassifiable .

"Statins are the recommended first-line lipid-lowering medicine in New Zealand and international guidelines." Quote from NZ website about best practice.

NZ Health Navigator website provides a fact sheet "The pros and cons of taking statins".

Table 2: Factors that increase your risk of severe muscle problems when taking statins.

Brian Barker had none of the listed risk factors yet continues to suffer from the initial injury in 2002.

It's 2021, on our frequent visits to doctors and hospitals most staff are apparently still unaware of the devastating potential impact of these medications for some people.
This fact is concerning.

Please supply the requested information regarding statin adverse reactions in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Heather Barker

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15437 email]

Is [University of Otago request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to University of Otago? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections