The Minister of Finance solicited input from various organizations including FAIR Association of Victims for Accident Insurance Reform. The following submissions have been received as a result of the consultation on the review of Ontario’s Dispute Resolution System. Stakeholder submissions by external organizations – an interesting read on how do we fix our broken Dispute Resolution System.
Author Archives: Admin2
Challenges with Opinions from Treatment Providers
“While the new expert report rules were intended to reduce reliance on hired guns, the Westerhof decision will have the unfortunate effect of forcing plaintiff’s counsel to become even more reliant on medical-legal experts out of fear that they will not be able to later secure compliant reports from the key treatment providers. ” Darcy Merkur
http://www.thomsonrogers.com/accident-benefit-reporter-updater-issue-15
Taxi drivers urge people to oppose industry changes
If cab operators were forced to purchase wheelchair-accessible vehicles, the cost would be passed on to customers through increased cab fares, the group says.
http://www.cp24.com/news/taxi-drivers-urge-people-to-oppose-industry-changes-1.1508142#ixzz2iZMUw5WN
Independent Medical Exams are not Independent at all
Tampa attorney Matt Powell explains what you may want to know if you have to attend an insurance examination for your injury claim. Find out what you can expect at the exam, and what some of the tricks that can be used against you. This is from the US but some of the information applies to our system as well.
Wynne takes steps toward ‘open government’
“TORONTO Premier Kathleen Wynne wants to fling open the doors of government.” But will she talk about the poor insurance coverage we have and how to fix that? Or why her government is so willing to listen to the insurance industry when it comes to catastrophic impairment coverage? Accident victims have plenty to say….
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4166393-wynne-takes-steps-toward-open-government-/
How corporate Ontario gets its way at Queen’s Park: Cohn
What do you know about the lobbyist-industrialist complex that lubricates Ontario politics?
Secret medical cautions
CPSO’s remedial disciplinary action for doctors is kept confidential to protect docs’ reputations. It’s almost as if the cautions don’t really exist, as if they’ve been issued solely as an attempt to placate angry complainants.
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/10/18/secret-medical-cautions
Have Your Say – upcoming deadlines for comments
College of Physicians and Surgeons has launched a multi-staged initiative that will see them examine their information-sharing practices and determine how they might make more information available about decisions and processes. The College is inviting feedback on this consultation from the profession, the public and other stakeholders. Names of individual participants will not be posted, however the names of organizations will be posted. Check the CPSO website for further details about posting guidelines. Deadline for feedback: November 11, 2013 http://policyconsult.cpso.on.
Financial Services Commission of Ontario : The Insurance Policy Unit at the Industrial and Financial Policy Branch of the Ministry of Finance is seeking comments on the proposed regulations that “Give the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) authority to license and oversee business practices of health clinics and practitioners who invoice auto insurers”. Comments are due by November 24, 2013 http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=14282&language=en
The use of future care reports for clients with traumatic brain injuries:
Given the extensive costs of these reports and the accounting reports to quantify them, we must not allow them to become a matter of course to the financial detriment of our clients.
http://insurancelawyermag.com/use-future-care-reports-clients-traumatic-brain-injuries/
Preparing an expert witness for trial
In a court action for damages arising out of an injury, judges and juries will rely upon the opinions of health professionals in order to understand and interpret the facts of a plaintiff’s claim.
http://insurancelawyermag.com/preparing-expert-witness-trial/