“Deeply disturbing” footage of a Melbourne chiropractor performing a controversial treatment on a baby has prompted the Victorian government to refer him to regulatory bodies.

The footage posted online shows the chiropractor holding the baby, believed to be two weeks old, upside down then applying spinal manipulation treatments.

A Melbourne chiropractor has posted a video online of him performing controversial spinal treatments on a two-week-old baby, including holding it upside down by its feet.



The Vic Health Minister has asked for an investigation. pic.twitter.com/sn0WnzlHqG — News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) February 19, 2019

“This vision is deeply disturbing,” the health minister, Jenny Mikakos, said on Wednesday.

She has referred the practitioner to the Chiropractic Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency “to take the necessary action”.

“It’s appalling that young children and infants are being exposed to potential harm,” Mikakos said.

She called on the board to condemn the practice of treating infants, saying it was “unprofessional and unacceptable”.

She also urged Ahpra to “act quickly to stop these rogue practitioners in their tracks”.

The minister said a range of expert groups – including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Royal Australian College of Physicians and other similar groups overseas – had cautioned against spinal manipulation in infants.

“Newborn babies are extremely fragile and it’s important to be aware that the damage done to an infant may not be obvious immediately and may not manifest until years later,” Mikakos said.

The Chiropractic Board of Australia said it was aware of the video and was assessing the concerns raised.

“The board has made a strong statement about the care of children and has written to every chiropractor in Australia to warn them to comply with their professional and ethical obligations, which are clearly outlined in the board’s code of conduct for chiropractors,” a spokeswoman said.

She said the board had acted against chiropractors who failed to meet expected standards.

“The board is always concerned if there are any chiropractors not practising in accordance with these obligations and welcomes advice about such practitioners,” she said.