A balanced opinion? Considering the role of the external clinical advisor in ACC processes

The role of the external clinical advisor is critical to the adjudication of complex claims in the processes of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). This is particularly true of claims for treatment injury that occur during birth, which are often very complicated. In most cases external clinical advisors are non-treating doctors, whose opinion strongly guides the hand of ACC. This viewpoint considers the impact of the role of the external clinical advisor by using extracts from an external clinical advisor's report to show how a power imbalance can be enacted in ACC decision making processes. Also considered are the way that the normal checks and balances in the system, particularly those provided by the Health & Disability Commissioner, are bypassed in most cases. Finally, a recommendation is made to potential external clinical advisors to precisely following the standards set by the Medical Council in all cases when writing reports for ACC.