Saturday 5 May 2012

WCA - Dire consequences

I am sending the note below to a handful of MPs who through questions in the House of Commons appear to have shown an interest in the matter . . . . I have toned down the wording deliberately.

"It may technically be regarded as circumstantial evidence, but there are clear indications that “over zealous” fit for work decisions have brought about premature death, either due to aggravating the underlying medical condition or mental instability and potentially suicide.  The qualifications of practitioners aside for the moment, it seems to me that that the cause is largely to do with little more than the emphasis – the decision that is made when it is not clear cut – who gets the benefit of the doubt????  [In my alternative model, it would be referred for a genuine second opinion by a more qualified individual at this stage rather than AFTER a firm decision has been made].  The only real criticism of GPs is that they give it to the patient, DWP does the opposite with no consideration of the potential consequences.  Given that it is one’s health in the balance, the only responsible & compassionate line is of course the former assumption – DWP has no mandate to take any other and gamble with lives.

I have tried through FoI to establish that DWP’s overriding priority has ultimately to be an individual’s longevity, unfortunately to no real avail, but I am sure that there is a carefully crafted highly embarrassing, question here for Mr Grayling that, perhaps on a couple of passes, forces him to acknowledge the “downside” risk with his approach.  The aim is for him to clarify which of the only two options he favours:

a)      That there is absolutely no risk – clearly absurd given the evidence around, albeit not conclusive (how many coincidences does it take...........??????)
b)      That there is a risk (however small) that then has to be dealt with.  In the absence of risk assessments, registers and the other tools normally used to mitigate risk, he would be hard pressed to suggest he is doing anything to manage it.

If he cannot confirm a), he must accept b) and if he is doing nothing about it, clearly doesn’t care.  QED and a philosophy the public ought to know about – having no particular regard for human life is capable of manifesting itself in all sorts of different ways in a Governments policy decisions, God forbid!"

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