To the Editor: O’Donnell and colleagues seek to extend and improve on previous research into the relationship between compensation status of injuries and medium-term health outcomes.1 Improvements are needed because much of the empirical analysis in this area has had major methodological limitations.2 Their analysis uses an impressive array of mental health measures to probe the “compensation effects”. However, several aspects of the study design raise questions.
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- 1 Faculties of Law and Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
- 2 Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
- 1. O’Donnell ML, Creamer MC, McFarlane AC, et al. Does access to compensation have an impact on recovery outcomes after injury? Med J Aust 2010; 192: 328-333. <eMJA full text> <MJA full text>
- 2. Grant G, Studdert DM. Poisoned chalice? A critical analysis of the evidence linking personal injury compensation processes with adverse health outcomes [8 December 2009]. Melbourne University Law Review: forthcoming University of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper No. 442. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1520788 (accessed Apr 2010).
- 3. Disability Investment Group. The way forward: a new disability policy framework for Australia. Canberra: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 2009. http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/pubs/policy/way_forward/Documents/dig_report_19oct09.pdf (accessed Apr 2010).
- 4. Productivity Commission. Disability care and support: terms of reference. 17 February 2010. http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support/terms-of-reference (accessed Apr 2010).