title: [Evaluating the total incapacity to work: implementing French National Authority for Health guidelines in clinical practice].
abstract: Total incapacity to work (TIW) is a legal concept that allows magistrates to assess the severity of violence against persons. The TIW is the duration of the victims' inability to fulfil their usual activities and is determined by physicians. Professional guidelines from the French National Authority for Health indicate that TIW applies both to physical and psychological problems. The law of 9 July 2010 makes explicit reference to TIW in cases of psychological violence and intimate partner harassment. Prosecutors base criminal penalties on the duration of TIW in cases of assault and battery. Whatever the physician, they should describe the mental state of the victim and identify the signs that may indicate the mental impact of reported assaults. Identifying combinations of symptoms can be useful in deciding whether the duration of TIW should be increased because of the psychic state. In case of stalking, assessment of TIW can allow prosecutors to link the reported facts to a criminal offence. In complex situations, the physician may be unable to assess a duration of TIW and can suggest expert assessment. In all cases, the duration of TIW needs to be based on functional criteria. The extent of harm to the life of relationships results from suffered violence, from the victim's reaction, and from the perception of their family and friends. In this area, we suggest to limit the first assessment of TIW to a few days and to reassess it later, according to real information reported by the victims, to careful observation of their behaviour, and to results of a questioning that should be as little suggestive as possible. At either end of the age scale and in case of preexisting functional impairment, assessment of TIW should take into account the actual and global capacity of the person before the assault.
authors: AP-HP, hôpitaux universitaires de Paris Seine-Saint-Denis, hôpital Jean-Verdier, service de médecine légale, 93140 Bondy, France; Université Paris-13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, institut de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les enjeux sociaux (IRIS), UMR 8156-723 CNRS-Inserm-EHESS, 93000 Bobigny, France. Electronic address: patrick.chariot@jvr.aphp.fr.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Chariot
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Bécache
authors: Irène
authors: I
authors: François-Purssell
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Dantchev
authors: Pierre-André
authors: PA
authors: Delpla
authors: Lionel
authors: L
authors: Fournier
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Proust
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012919:Social Behavior; D018454:Spouses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation