The death of Mr Sean Kelly, apparently after a heart attack brought on by the use of artificial suntanning equipment, raises serious questions not just about the safety of sunbeds but also about the regulations governing their use. The health risk of excessive ultraviolet radiation and excessive exposure to the sun are already well known. But there is understandable surprise and no small sense of public alarm in the aftermath of Mr Kelly's death. This is scarcely surprising: many fair skinned Irish people appear to. believe that a course of sunbed sessions prior to a sunshine holiday can help to shield them from the adverse effects of the sun.
Some will argue that the Kelly tragedy is a once off occurance with few wider implications for the thousands of Irish people who use sunbeds in health studios, hairdressing premises, hotel leisure centres and other locations. Mr Kelly suffered from psoriasis, a common skin complaint and he may have been of the view that a moderate sunbed course would provide some relief.
Undoubtedly many of those with psoriasis and similar complaints find some comfort in a sun tanning course: some even claim that they are taking the sunbed course on medical advice. But the case against sunbeds made by a consultant dermatologist, Dr Gillian Murphy, in this newspaper today, is persuasive. Her advice is unequivocal. Sunbeds are totally unnecessary and should not be used: "It is the cumulative effect of ultra violet on the skin that ultimately causes cancer ... the more you get the greater the risk".
To his credit, the president of the Irish Medical Organisation, Mr Henry Finnegan, has called for a full inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Kelly's death. But the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, appears content at this stage to rely on the forthcoming coroner's inquest. That would be a mistake: the inquest will clarify the precise circumstances of Mr Kelly's death but it will not address the wider public interest questions raised by it.
The most pressing of these is the case for some regulation of the sunbed industry. The complete absence of regulation, given the well grounded health fears associated with sunbeds, is astonishing. It is believed that some ten per cent of the population regularly use sunbeds but the industry operates in an unfettered way without any official control. There are no mandatory safety checks on the equipment and no inspections of premises. There is no onus on the owner of the premises to advise users about the potential risks or even to inquire if they are on medication. Neither is there an obligation on the operator to install the most rudimentary safety features, where the sunbed automatically switches off after a period of time.
It could be argued that the State has no business regulating in this area and that it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that he or she uses the equipment properly. But the harsh fact is that some people are more responsible than others and many do not appreciate the health risks associated with the use of sunbeds. The reality is that sunbeds, when used without adequate supervision and guidance, represent a serious health risk. The ease for comprehensive regulation of sunbeds industry is compelling.