KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) has called for a proper system to be formulated to improve the assessment of disability, damages and processing of claims related to road traffic accidents and other injuries.
Its advisor Nathan Vytialingam said such claims are usually challenged in court by insurance companies represented by their lawyers, often leading to a lengthy legal process involving court appearances and expert witness opinions.
“There are patients who have waited for as long as 12 years for a settlement,” he said, stressing that most of those affected are from the B40 lower-income group.
In the meantime, while awaiting a settlement, the patients and their families find themselves stuck and cannot move on in life.
“Imagine what it would be like if the affected person is the sole breadwinner of the family,” said Nathan, who has about fifty years of experience in the field of disabilities.
He pointed out that the general consensus among medical practitioners is that rehabilitation should commence early. This would allow a person to possibly even be able to return to being productive and go back to employment.
He said this in a statement to announce the Seminar on Medical Disability and Assessment of Damages organised by MHAS.
The event will be held at the Persatuan Alumni Universiti Malaya Clubhouse on October 1 and 2. Court of Appeal judge Datuk S. Nantha Balan will deliver the keynote address titled Challenges to the Judiciary – Personal Injury Claims.
About 200 people, comprising mainly members of the legal and medical fraternities, medical claims managers, allied health practitioners and the public are expected to attend.
The seminar’s organising chairperson Philip George said that disability affects the quality of life of not only the patient but their caregiver and family as well.
“It can put a tremendous amount of stress on the family and lead to many other problems,” he said.
“We need to address the lack of understanding among the medical practitioners, legal fraternity, insurance providers, judiciary and even the government on the medical issues of post-trauma patients.”
“The delays in settlements can also affect outcomes as the patient will need funds to support their treatments. Some of the families of the severely disabled are unable to care for their loved ones” he added.
For more information on the Medical Disability & Assessment of Damages Seminar, visit the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society website. – The Vibes, September 30, 2022
