AMA Guides® Newsletter - Issue Archive

Articles

1. Catastrophic Central Nervous System Injury Rating

   Stephen L. Demeter, Lorne Direnfeld, Richard Katz, James B. Talmage, Christopher R. Brigham

   Pages 3–11

   DOI: 10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2020.SepOct01

   Abstract

   We present a case involving a catastrophic injury that resulted from a completely obstructed airway when an examinee choked on food. She had cardiopulmonary arrest and developed a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy associated with profound neurological losses. The evaluation of the consequences of severe central nervous system injury necessitates evaluation and rating of all the sequelae of that injury. The first step is clinical assessment, followed by thoughtful application of these data to the processes and criteria provided in the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides). The approaches discussed in the fifth and sixth editions of the AMA Guides are similar.
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2. Issues in California Workers' Compensation: Substantial Medical Evidence, Causation, and Apportionment

   Steven D. Feinberg

   Pages 12–15

   DOI: 10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2020.SepOct02

   Abstract

   This article describes special aspects of addressing and defining substantial medical evidence, causation, and apportionment in the California Workers' Compensation system. Substantial medical evidence is framed in terms of reasonable medical probability, and the opinion must be based on fact and not be speculative. The issue of whether the injury occurred in the course of employment is left to the Trier of Fact (WCAB judge). The issue of arising out of employment is a medical issue left to the physician. Apportionment applies to both the industrial and nonindustrial cause of the disability.
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