Sydney doctors lead Bindeez recall

AUSTRALIAN doctors were the leading force behind the global Bindeez toy recall after they discovered the toy contained a potentially deadly drug compound.

Dr Olivia Chan was one of the doctors who treated a two-year-old boy at Westmead hospital, in Sydney's west, after he ingested the toy's bead.

Dr Chan become suspicious about a quantity of Bindeez beads the boy swallowed and had them analysed.

Six children were admitted to hospital in Australia and New Zealand this month, coinciding with the recall of the Moose brand toy last week.

Two toddlers in America were in hospital after swallowing beads from a similar toy distribute by Moose Enterprises called Aqua Dots.

But Dr Chan was humble in responding to her smart move when asked by a News Ltd newspaper.

“Everyone played a part in the puzzle,” Dr Chan told the paper.

It was a collaborative effort.”

Dr Olivia Chan, along with Dr Kevin Carpenter, Dr Maurice Gett and Dr Holly Smith, were the Sydney team whose research confirmed the product contained the party drug GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate) or fantasy.

These Sydney doctors' work led to 40 countries recalling the toy previously awarded Australia's Toy of the Year 2007.

“It would have had awful implications for the patient's family if we hadn't found out what was going on.”

“It's a very good outcome that we have had,” she said.

Source: news.com.au