§ 37. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Pensions Minister whether, in the event of the decision given by the medical referee in any particular case being in conflict with the opinion expressed by the pensioner's medical adviser, he will give instructions that the matter shall be referred to a third member of the medical profession for final decision?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Colonel Sir James Craig)Where the question is one of treatment or of inability to work, and the man is not satisfied with the medical referee's opinion, it is open to him, or to the local committee on his behalf, to appeal to the Ministry, and if the medical officers are unable to decide the question on the evidence before them the man is referred to an independent medical man, usually a specialist, for further examination.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMay I ask, if the discharged man is dissatisfied with the medical category in which he is put, has he then got power to appeal to an independent medical man apart from the medical referee?
§ Sir J. CRAIGIf the man feels that he has not been properly assessed, he has the power to go before the medical referee, and if the medical referee think she has not been properly assessed, he can again appeal to the board for a retrial of his case on medical grounds.
§ Colonel ASHLEYBy a different medical referee?
§ Sir J. CRAIGWhere there is any difference of opinion we refer the case to some separate tribunal with a special expert dealing with the particular disability on the board.