Korean Academy of Medical Sciences Pediatric Impairment Guideline for Brain Lesion

The permanent impairment evaluation for children in developmental stage is very difficult and it is even impossible in some cases. The impairment evaluation for developing children has not yet been included in the guideline of the American Medical Association. Due to frequent medical and social demands in Korea, we developed an impairment evaluation guideline for motor impairment, intellectual disability/mental retardation, developmental speech-language disorder and epilepsy caused by pediatric cerebral injuries, or cerebral lesions other than the developmental disorders such as autism. With the help of various literature and foreign institutions, we developed our in order to develop a scientific guideline for pediatric impairment that is suited to Korean cultural background and social condition.

The Method of Impairment Evaluation

An impairment is defined as "a loss, loss of use, or derangement of any body part, organ system or organ function". The impairment evaluation should be performed by physicians. To determine permanent impairment associated with medical condition a standard method should be used. It is a general principle that an evaluation of permanent impairment only be performed when the physician considers the person to have reached a state of maximum medical improvement. Maximum medical improvement is considered when the person's condition has been medically stable and is unlikely to change by more than 3% of whole body impairment within the next 12 months. The physician must use the entire clinical skill and judgment to perform the proper impairment evaluation. A report of the evaluation of permanent impairment should be accurate, comprehensive and fair. The physicians are reminded that they have a duty to act in an ethical, professional and considerate manner when examining the person for the purpose of assessing the permanent impairment.

Comparison on Criteria of Impairment Evaluation about Eye Injury / 中国康复理论与实践

@# Objective To compare and investigate the criteria of impairment evaluation about eye injury.MethodsThe distill items, contents of these items and excursus of three criteria, Assessment and Gradation of Disability Caused by Work-related Injuries and Occupational Diseases (AGDCWIOD), Assessment for Body Impairment of the Injured in Road Traffic Accident (ABIIRTA) and Assessment and Gradation of Impairment Caused by Trauma (AGICT), commonly used in justice practice at present were compared.ResultsThere were essential differences among three criteria. AGDCWIOD was loose, ABIIRTA and AGICT were strict. AGDCWIOD and AGICT were religious, ABOIIRTA was oversight and non-religious. At the same time, there were differences between domestic and international criteria, and domestic criteria were behind the times.ConclusionThere are many problems in the criteria of impairment evaluation about eye injury; related items need recension and consummation.