Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy was in the Senate before question time last Tuesday when she realised something was seriously wrong.
Despite the pain and the concern of her doctors, Senator McCarthy was not surprised by the episode. Four years ago, she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. The chronic disease means she has enlarged kidneys with thousands of cysts. There is no cure for the disease, which is also associated with kidney infections, high blood pressure and pain. McCarthy says it will get worse over time, eventually requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic condition. It is one form of chronic kidney disease, which disproportionately affects Indigenous Australians. Senator McCarthy's mother died of renal failure and her brother is on dialysis.
According to the Menzies School of Health Research, Indigenous people develop end-stage kidney disease at up to 30 times the rate of non-Indigenous people. The Menzies School also says the death rates from kidney disease are eight to 10 times higher among Indigenous Australians than other Australians. Indigenous Australians are also 14 times more likely to need in-hospital care for kidney dialysis.
Senator McCarthy was planning to be at the annual Garma festival in Arnhem Land over the weekend. Instead, she was still in hospital in Canberra.
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