Medical Panel

The medical panel answers specific medical questions put to them by a court, body or person eligible to make a referral. Medical panel doctors are independent. In addition, the doctors will not have previously treated or examined you (except for any prior medical panel examinations). The opinion of the medical panel on a medical question must be accepted as final and conclusive. The law does not allow a medical panel to review its opinion unless by order of the Supreme Court.

As requested, the medical panel may consider one or more of the following:

• The nature of your medical condition;
• Your incapacity for work and whether it is permanent;
• What other work you may be able to perform;
• Whether your treatment is appropriate for your injury;
• Whether your employment was a significant contributing factor to your injury;
• The level of any impairment from your injury;
• The extent and likely prognosis of your condition;
• Whether your incapacity is due to your injury.

You can be referred to a medical panel by:

• Authorised WorkSafe Agents,
• Workplace Injury Commission (WIC), Conciliation Officer
• Magistrates' and County Courts,
• VCAT,
• self-insured employers, and
• for a Wrongs Act claim, a respondent (Defendant) in a matter.

When requested by the medical panel, you must attend and cooperate. Your compensation payments may be suspended if you do not. There may also be other consequences for your claim. It is important to contact the medical panel's office in advance if you cannot attend.

The assessment usually takes between 30 and 90 minutes. The time will depend on the complexity and nature of your injury.
If it is the first time the medical panel has seen you, a full history of your injury and condition will be considered and a thorough examination will be required.

If you have been referred by a court, the medical panel may only consider those medical reports, hospital summaries, and written submissions that have been forwarded by the court. Therefore, you can only submit further information through the courts.

Generally, a medical panel will allow a friend or family member to attend during a physical examination for support.

Examinations with a psychiatrist are usually held in private due to the personal and private nature of the questions. There may be exceptions to this if you are a person under disability.

Note that the medical panel may be required to view any surveillance footage with you during the assessment (if appropriate to your referral). Therefore, you should ensure that you have already sighted any surveillance footage prior to your attendance.

The information on this website produced and distributed by the IWSN is of a general nature. We do our best to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, but cannot take any responsibility for any loss arising out of its use. You should not rely on it applying in your own circumstances and should always take further advice from those with appropriate qualifications.

Last updated August 2024.