title: A novel methodology for the objective ascertainment of psychic and existential damage.
abstract: Personal injury is a legal term for a physical or psychic injury suffered by the plaintiff under civil and/or tort law. With reference to non-pecuniary damages, the evidence itself of physical and/or psychic injury is not sufficient for damage compensation. The process of ascertaining impairments and/or disabilities which pertain to the "personal sphere" of the individual, such as pain and suffering, loss of amenity, and/or psycho-existential damage, poses particular difficulties in relation to the obtainment of scientific evidence. The "immateriality" and the subjective connotation of the personal sphere are, in themselves, critical issues. The clinical data obtained from the neuropsychological ascertainment find their essential prerequisite in the active participation of the examinee who, in legally relevant contexts (criminal law, civil law, insurance), may be "affected" by personal interests. The present manuscript presents a novel interdisciplinary methodology, experimented on a series of judicial and extra-judicial cases, aimed at the attainment of objectivity and accuracy eligible in relation to the judicial settlement of cases and other matters involving the ascertainment of peculiar aspects of non-pecuniary damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal and Occupational Medicine, Toxicology and Public Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35128, Padova, Italy. santodavide.ferrara@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Santo Davide
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal and Occupational Medicine, Toxicology and Public Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ananian
authors.affiliation: University of Montpellier, Hôpital Lapeyronie, 191 Av. du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295, Montpellier, Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baccino
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal and Occupational Medicine, Toxicology and Public Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boscolo-Berto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Surgical, and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ranieri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Domenici
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Forensic Toxicology and Anthropology, University of Granada, Avda. de Madrid 11, 18071, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernàndez-Cueto
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, c/PO Box 2499, Caulfield Junction, Vic, 3161, Australia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mendelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Forensic Sciences Section, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Aristide
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Norelli
authors.affiliation: Division of Disability Medicine, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, 1600 Medical Center Drive, Huntington, 25701, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranavaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal and Occupational Medicine, Toxicology and Public Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terranova
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Ethics and Medical Law, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde - Unidade Central, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, University of Coimbra, 3000-354, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Duarte Nuno
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal and Occupational Medicine, Toxicology and Public Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viel
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, University of Granada, Avda Madrid 11, 18071, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Milan, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zoia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sartori
mesh_terms: D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003416:Criminal Law; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Malingering; Methods of ascertainment; Personal damage; Psycho-existential damage