[Medico-legal assessment in civil lawsuit concerning patients with neurological disorders].
BACKGROUND
The objective of medico-legal assessment in civil lawsuit involves the assessment of health impairment due to a cause under dispute, evaluation of percentage health impairment, assessment of relationship between the cause and the impairment. The objective of the paper was the analysis of medicolegal opinions ordered by civil departments of courts in Poland involving patients with neurological disorders.


METHODS
The examination criteria included age, sex, type of accident, type of injury and symptoms reported, causative relationship and ability to work. The study comprised 36 civil opinions issued by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Białystok in the years 2001-2003.


RESULTS
State of consciousness was assessed at the moment of making important decisions or signing important documents, ability to work, causative relationship between the accident and symptoms reported. Moreover, suitability of treatment was evaluated. No significant differences regarding sex were found between plaintiffs. Occupationally active persons were predominantly subject to injuries. The most common symptoms reported were headache, vertigos and aching pain in the L-S spine.


CONCLUSIONS
No therapeutic incorrectness was found in cases under analysis. In 7/12 cases health impairment was assessed. In 75% of the opinions no cause-effect relationship was concluded between current disorders and accident at work.
Zakład Medycyny Sadowej Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku, ul. Kilińskiego 1, 15-230 Białystok.
Iwona
I
Ptaszyńska-Sarosiek
Anna
A
Niemcunowicz-Janica
Jerzy
J
Janica
Zofia
Z
Wardaszka
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000059:Accidents / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland; D014717:Vertigo / Q000453:epidemiology; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D055815:Young Adult