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ould:

 evaluate and document the probable outcome of treatment and the main risks and or side effects of the
treatment; and

 indicate why this treatment is reasonable; and

 note the reasons why the person has chosen not to have treatment.

7. A single medical condition should be assessed on all relevant Tables when that medical condition is
causing a separate loss of function in more than one body system. For example, Diabetes Mellitus may need to
be assessed using the endocrine (19), exercise tolerance (1), lower limb function (4), renal function (17), skin
disorders (18) and visual acuity (13) tables. When using more than one Table for a single medical condition the
possibility of double assessment of a single loss of function must be guarded against. For example, it is
inappropriate to assess an isolated spinal condition under both the spine table (5) and the lower limb table (4)
unless there is a definite secondary neurological deficit in a lower limb or limbs.

8. In general, pain or fatigue should be assessed in terms of the underlying medical condition which causes it.
For example, Table 5 should be used for spinal pathology. However, where the medical officer is of the opinion
that the Tables underestimate the level of disability because of the presence of chronic entrenched pain, Table
20 can be used to assign a rating instead of the Table(s) that otherwise would be used to assess the loss of
function to which the pain relates. Medical officers must use their clinical judgement and be convinced that
pain or fatigue is a significant factor contributing towards the person's overall functional impairment. Medical
reports and the person's history should consistently indicate the presence of chronic entrenched pain or fatigue.

9. Always use a Table specific to the functional impairment being rated unless the instructions in a section
specify otherwise. The system-specific Tables provide appropriate criteria with which to rate a disorder. The
procedure is to identify the loss of function, refer to the appropriate system Table and identify the correct rating
eg. a person with a CVA (stroke) could be assessed under five different Tables: upper and lower limbs (3 and 4),
neurological (8 and 9) and visual field disorders (15). Table selection would depend on the functions affected.

10. Ratings can only be assigned in accordance with the rating scores in each Table. Ratings cannot be
assigned between consecutive ratings (eg. a rating of fifteen cannot be assigned between ten and twenty). Nor
can ratings be assigned in excess of the maximum rating specified by each Table (eg. if the maximum rating for
a Table is 30, the medical officer cannot assign a greater rating than this figure). Ratings must be consistent
with these Tables. No idiosyncratic assessment systems are allowed.

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