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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> UK Social Security and Child Support Commissioners' Decisions >> [2006] UKSSCSC CSDLA_388_2001 (09 June 2006) URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSSCSC/2006/CSDLA_388_2001.html Cite as: [2006] UKSSCSC CSDLA_388_2001 |
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[2006] UKSSCSC CSDLA_388_2001 (09 June 2006)
THE SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner's Case No: CSDLA/388/01
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 1998
APPEAL FROM THE APPEAL TRIBUNAL UPON A QUESTION OF LAW
COMMISSIONER: L T PARKER
Appellant: Respondent: Secretary of State
Tribunal: Greenock Tribunal Case No:
DECISION OF SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSIONER
Decision
Reasons
No apparent bias
"… the question is whether the fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts, would conclude that there was a real possibility that the tribunal was biased.
…"
"…in my opinion the idea that [the member on a tribunal who happens also to be an EMP] was likely to be pre-disposed in favour of reports by EMP practitioners simply because she had a special interest in and experience of the preparation of these reports has no objective basis in the evidence. The test for her disqualification on the grounds of apparent bias has not been made out."
"… the medical checks by Benefits Agency doctors can't be said to be independent and impartial…".
"It is important to stress at the outset that the facts do not support the appellant's primary argument that [the EMP] was to be seen as a Benefits Agency doctor or that she was in some other way aligned with the Benefits Agency. The tribunal of commissioners and their Lordships of the First Division were in agreement on this point. Her relationship with the Benefits Agency was as an independent expert adviser. Her advice was sought and given because of the skills that she was able to bring to bear on medical issues in the exercise of her professional judgment. A fair-minded observer who had considered the facts properly would appreciate that professional detachment and the ability to exercise her own independent judgment on medical issues lay at the heart of her relationship with the Agency. He would also appreciate that she was just as capable of exercising those qualities when sitting as the medical member of a disability appeal tribunal. So there is no basis for a finding that there was a reasonable apprehension of bias on the ground that [the EMP who also sat as a tribunal member] had a predisposition to favour the interests of the Benefits Agency. Nor, it must be emphasised, is there any suggestion that she did or said anything in the course of her work which might be thought to cast doubt on her impartiality or her integrity."
Excluding relevant evidence
"It is respectfully submitted that the decision of the Disability Appeal Tribunal to exclude evidence regarding the complaint to the GMC, which was a matter which could have had a material influence on the outcome of the appeal, was an error in law."
(Delay by the Commissioner in resolution of this point arose because the solicitor originally intended to pursue a legal aid application but that is no longer the case.)
"Nevertheless, the Committee was concerned by the manner in which you conducted your examination on [the appellant]. The Committee would advise you to ensure that you are more comprehensive in your communication with clients in future and that you are clear of your role as an examining doctor and adhere to the proper processes involved. In addition, you should have regard to the views and opinions of other professionals who have been involved with the client when compiling your report rather than to make your own assumptions about a client's condition.
The Committee have asked me to draw to your attention to (sic) paragraph 12, bullet point 6 of the GMC's booklet 'Good Medical Practice', which recommends that a doctor gives information to patients in a way they can understand. In addition you should refer to paragraph 30 on page 10 which recommends a that (sic) a doctor respects the skills and contributions of colleagues and makes sure that patients and colleagues understand your role and responsibilities. ..."
"? giving patients the information they ask for or need about their condition, its treatment and prognosis, in a way they can understand, including, for any drug you prescribe, information about any serious side effects and, where appropriate, dosage."
"health care is increasingly provided by multi-disciplinary teams. Working in a team does not change your personal accountability for your professional conduct and the care you provide. When working in a team you must:
- respect the skills and contributions of your colleagues;
…
- make sure that your patients and colleagues understand your professional status and specialty, your role and responsibilities in the team and who is responsible for each aspect of patients' care;"
"You must be honest and trustworthy when writing reports, completing or signing forms, or providing evidence in litigation or other formal enquiry. This means that you must take reasonable steps to verify any statement before you sign a document. You must not write or sign documents which are false or misleading because they omit relevant information. ..."
But although the complaint to the GMC by the appellant maintained that the EMP's report was "misleading", no acceptance of this is supported by the content of the GMC's response.
Other points
"… the tribunal was not conducted properly and that insufficient time was given for me to put my case."
"The other evidence presented from medically qualified people was not considered in full and the evidence from two of my witnesses, who attended the Tribunal, was not even mentioned, even though one of the witnesses is a qualified nurse."
"… the non medical evidence before us required, of necessity, to be based on observation of the appellant only. We saw nothing in the other medical evidence before us to cause us to change our opinion in this case that the EMP's report should be accepted in preference."
"… the views of Lord Penrose in Asif v Secretary of State for Home Department 1999 S.L.T. 890 at 894G-H, where he said:
'… nothing could be more destructive of the efficient disposal of immigration appeals than the notion that the adjudicator and the tribunal are under an obligation to carry through a mechanical process of narration of the evidence, analysis of it into classes, and explanation factor by factor of the relevance, or irrelevance, credibility and reliability or otherwise of it'.
That echoed the words of Woolf J. in Crake v Supplementary Benefits Commission [1982] 1 All E.R. 498 at 506B where, in relation to a supplementary benefit appeal tribunal, he said:
'It has got to be borne in mind, particularly with tribunals of this sort, that they cannot be expected to give long and precise accounts of their reasoning; but a short and concise statement in clear language should normally be possible which fairly indicates to the recipient why his appeal was allowed or dismissed; …'.
In our opinion, the question whether the statement of reasons leaves the informed reader and the Court in any real and substantial doubt about how material relevant to their decision was treated by the tribunal should be addressed in the light of the views expressed by Lord Penrose and Woolf J".
Summary
(Signed)
L T PARKER
Commissioner
Date: 9 June 2006