“In fact, we’re implementing the changes that will allow those average decreases to happen,” Wynne said.
Author Archives: Admin2
Court clarifies expert report rules
“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. http://3lfppdu3hio14gsba1rg48qaag.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/tlw-p12.pdf
Not slashing benefits
Re “Risky business” (Sept. 1): Alan Shanoff asks why would we reduce insurance benefits for Ontarians who need them most? As I have said, we hope for a new definition of catastrophic impairment to make sure that unnecessary costs related to catastrophic injuries are taken out so that money goes to people who really need it. There’s a huge difference in that statement than to suggest the insurance industry wants to slash benefits.
Ralph Palumbo, Vice-President, Ontario Insurance Bureau of Canada
(If the IBC wants the money to go to those who need it, then why are they pushing for a new definition of catastrophic impairment which would reduce the number of people who would qualify?) Editor http://www.torontosun.com/2013/09/06/letters-to-the-editor-sept-8
Brian Sinclair is Why We Need Medical Whistleblowers
The victims who complain to the colleges are essentially unacknowledged Whistleblowers who hope to save other vulnerable patients from often deliberate harm or incompetence. The Colleges, instead of providing oversight, put their member interests ahead of those whom they are regulated to protect, patients. Complaints are often ignored or disposed of with confidential oral, written, remedial cautions that are not part of the public record. The lack of information about these cautions is putting vulnerable and often cognitively impaired auto accident victims at risk.
http://www.cbc.ca/whitecoat/blog/2013/09/06/brian-sinclair-is-why-we-need-medical-whistleblowers/
FAIR response to The Stakeholder Roundtable on Catastrophic Impairment Sept 5, 2013
Given that “The goal of this review should be to ensure that the most seriously injured victims are treated fairly” then the FSCO must acknowledge that this has not been accomplished with a Panel that lacked the expertise necessary to arrive at a fair definition. No matter how cooperative and interactive the roundtable participants were, it cannot undo the flaws of the original Panel conclusions or the harm it will do to accident victims.
The confusion demonstrated by the FSCO CAT Panel in dealing with this new catastrophic definition should be reason enough to go back to the consultation process. FSCO needs to better accommodate those most severely injured by removing the obstacles to recovery rather than creating new ones. FAIR response to Stakeholder Roundtable on Catastrophic Impairment September 5 2013
Unattainable goal? CBA report details the ‘abysmal state of access to justice in Canada’
“I’d start with the personal injury area of law. Why are there so many personal injury lawsuits? Why do so many accident victims require a lawyer to assist with the collection of no-fault accident benefits? How can we modify the law so that insurance companies are forced to provide the benefits they are contractually required to provide without forcing accident victims to retain a lawyer?”
ICBC policies drive debate
“The rise in the cost of bodily injury claims has more to do with ICBC’s aggressive defence tactics over the last few years than payouts to claimants…..It is rather unfortunate ICBC is giving the impression that injury claims are escalating when in fact, their own aggressive policies and procedures are the culprit to the increase.”
Why We Need Medical Whistleblowers
“Beyond legal and regulatory requirements, there’s a culture in medicine whereby my health care colleagues are all too ready to comply with the directive from on high to keep things that might embarrass a hospital quiet. ”
http://www.cbc.ca/whitecoat/blog/2013/09/06/brian-sinclair-is-why-we-need-medical-whistleblowers/