08 Dec Personal Injuries Commission
The First Report of the Personal Injuries Commission was published 7 December 2017.
Justice Nicholas Kearns, Chairperson, Personal Injuries Commission, states “The key findings of the Report suggest that adopting a standardised and internationally recognised approach to the diagnosis, treatment and reporting of soft tissue injuries, by practitioners who are appropriately trained in the completion of personal injury medical reports, will improve the personal injuries environment in Ireland by promoting an objective standard for assessing such injuries.
The Commission is recommending that the Quebec Task Force (QTF) Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) grading scale should be used going forward by all medical professionals reporting on relevant injuries. These are internationally recognised scales based on severity of symptoms and associated physical signs. Training and accreditation in soft tissue reporting is agreed as being a best practice requirement for those wishing to complete relevant reports.”
The Commission also recommends the linking of future publications of the Book of Quantum to the newly standardised examination and reporting injury categories. The Book of Quantum which is published by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, provides information on prevailing personal injury award levels.
A medical report template is provided in the Report.
The Personal Injuries Commission was established in January 2017 on foot of a recommendation of the Cost of Insurance Working Group and comprises of representatives from stakeholders that include the Bar Council, the Law Society, Insurance Ireland, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association as well as the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Justice and Equality, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, the State Claims Agency and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
First Report of the Personal Injuries Commission
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Publication-files/First-Report-of-the-Personal-Injuries-Commission.pdf