[The neuro-urological expert opinion in statutory accident insurance : Consensual recommendations for diagnostics and for the assessment of reduction of earning capacity].

BACKGROUND

Previous assessment guidelines from standard sources for urologic expert opinions show considerable differences in the recommended percentages for the assessment of reduction of earning capacity (MdE) for accident sequelae in the neuro-urological specialty.

OBJECTIVES

To develop a "revised and standardized version of the MdE assessments of neuro-urological accident sequelae (in tabular form) as a guideline/manual" for expert opinions in the legal area of the German and Austrian Statutory Accident Insurance ( www.dguv.de , www.auva.at ).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A working group of neuro-urologists from spinal cord injury centers of different BG ("Berufsgenossenschaft") clinics was formed within the working group Neuro-Urology of DMGP (German-speaking Medical Society for Paraplegiology; www.dmgp.de ). Between January 2017 and September 2022, a total of 7 working meetings and 2 video conferences were held. The consensus of the developed documents was reached by formal consensus finding in a nominal group process and in a final consensus conference.

RESULTS

The necessary bases for a targeted, legally sound diagnosis of accident consequences in the neuro-urological field were elaborated and, based on the experience of many years of expert opinion activity, a "matrix" for a uniform, graduated assessment of the level of reduction of earning capacity in the (neuro-)urological field in the case of confirmed neuro-urological accident consequences was created.

CONCLUSION

In the interest of equal treatment of all insured persons, it is of great importance to make a uniform and comprehensible assessment of the amount of the MdE on the basis of "table values" that reflect the available empirical values.