Citation

Lewis J. Precedent (Sydney, N.S.W.) 2017; (138): 14-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Australian Lawyers Alliance)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The management of the injured worker in a compensation scheme can pose unique challenges to the treatment provider. Unlike the traditionally exclusive doctor-patient relationship, working in a compensation setting includes the addition of a third party (the insurer) into the clinical mix. As a consequence, the traditional doctor-patient dyad is challenged, with the potential to impact upon important clinical domains including: role, diagnosis, management, communication and confidentiality. In addition, the injured worker is characterised by having to deal with multiple concurrent losses. Some of these losses may include loss of employment, loss of role, loss of identity, financial loss, loss of physical function and independence. Patient symptoms regularly impact upon social, recreational and interpersonal functioning. As a consequence, individuals are often dealing with significant grief in the context of their changed life circumstances. It is therefore not surprising that secondary psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety, form the basis of most psychiatric referrals.

Language: en