72Assessment of degree of impairment

### 72 Assessment of degree of impairment > *\[Section 72 Subsection (1) amended by No. 16 of 1995, s. 91 and Sched. 1 \]*[*\[Section 72 Substituted by No. 99 of 2000, s. 37, Applied:01 Jul 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-07-01/act-2000-099#GS37@EN) > > > (1)  [*\[Section 72 Subsection (1) amended by No. 39 of 2017, s. 17, Applied:01 Jan 2018\]*](/view/html/inforce/2018-01-01/act-2017-039#GS17@Hpa@EN) [*\[Section 72 Subsection (1) amended by No. 65 of 2004, s. 19, Applied:17 Dec 2004\]*](/view/html/inforce/2004-12-17/act-2004-065#GS19@EN) An assessment of a degree of impairment is to be undertaken by an accredited medical practitioner in accordance with – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 72 Subsection (1) amended by No. 39 of 2017, s. 17, Applied:01 Jan 2018\]*](/view/html/inforce/2018-01-01/act-2017-039#GS17@Hpb@EN) any relevant guidelines, issued under [section 71A](#GS71A@EN) , as in effect on the date on which the assessment is made; or > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 72 Subsection (1) amended by No. 39 of 2017, s. 17, Applied:01 Jan 2018\]*](/view/html/inforce/2018-01-01/act-2017-039#GS17@Hpc@EN) if there are no such guidelines, the AMA Guides as in effect on the date on which the assessment is made; or > > > > > > > (c) if there are no such guidelines and the AMA Guides are not applicable or are unsuitable, any method as may be prescribed. > > > (2)  In assessing a degree of impairment of an injury – > > > > > > (a) regard is not to be had to any psychiatric or psychological injury, impairment or symptoms arising as a consequence of, or secondary to, the physical injury; and > > > > > > > (b) the degree may comprise a combination of impairments arising out of the same incident or occurring on the same date assessed together using the combination tables in the AMA Guides; and > > > > > > > (c) if a worker presents for assessment in relation to injuries which occurred on different dates, the impairments are to be assessed separately; and > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 72 Subsection (2) amended by No. 85 of 2009, s. 20, Applied:01 Jul 2010\]*](/view/html/inforce/2010-07-01/act-2009-085#GS20@EN) an impairment arising otherwise than from the injury is not to be taken into account in assessing the degree of the impairment resulting from the injury. > > > (3)  [*\[Section 72 Subsection (3) inserted by No. 39 of 2017, s. 17, Applied:01 Jan 2018\]*](/view/html/inforce/2018-01-01/act-2017-039#GS17@Hpd@EN) If an assessment of a degree of impairment of a person is, at any time, validly made under this section in accordance with guidelines or a method prescribed for the purposes of [subsection (1)](#GS72@Gs1@EN) , as the case may be – > > > > > > (a) the assessment is not to be taken to be invalid by reason only that the guidelines, or the prescribed method, have or has ceased to be in effect or have or has subsequently been amended; but > > > > > > > (b) the assessment ceases to apply in relation to the person on and from the day on which a subsequent assessment of the person is made under this section in accordance with guidelines, or a method prescribed for the purposes of [subsection (1)](#GS72@Gs1@EN) , as amended if at all, that is or are in force on the day on which the subsequent assessment is made.