Abstract
The medico-legal consequences of head and neck injury fall broadly into two categories: personal injury and medical negligence. This chapter will discuss liaison with the various authorities that require medico-legal input relevant to head injury and whiplash. Although focusing on UK practice, the principles discussed also apply to other countries. Personal injury. Authorities requesting medical reports include solicitors (personal injury claims), insurance companies, the police and coroner. Reports need to be tailored to address the specific requirements of the requesting authority, for example, an opinion on the mechanism of injury for the police /coroner, or an opinion on the degree of disability and whether it is likely to be permanent for insurance companies. Personal injury reports. Medico-legal personal injury reports for solicitors need to be comprehensive covering a wide range of issues of both fact and opinion. Instructions can be received from solicitors representing the claimant, defendant or may be jointly instructed by both parties. Medico-legal reports should be addressed to the court and need to acknowledge that it is the duty of an expert to help the Court on matters within his/her own expertise, and that this duty is paramount and overrides any obligation to the person from whom the expert has received instructions, or by whom he/she is paid. The date of report and accompanying persons should be recorded. In head injury and whiplash reports the background is critical. Accurate recording of pre-event history and relationship with post-event symptoms is essential. Specific pre-event neurological, psychological and psychiatric symptoms should be determined. The patient's description of past medical history should be placed in the context of the medical records, from both primary care physician and hospital records.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Head Injury |
Subtitle of host publication | A Multidisciplinary Approach |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 288-298 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780511576515 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780521697620 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine