275Court may state a question regarding factual issues before referring a medical question to a Medical Panel

275 Court may state a question regarding factual issues before referring a medical question to a Medical Panel (1) If, under section 274(5), the court has not referred a medical question to a Medical Panel, the court may— (a) state a question to be answered by the court for the purposes of determining the factual issues referred to in section 274(5); and (b) give directions for the hearing and determination of that question; and (c) hear and determine the question and, by the answer to that question, make appropriate findings of fact. (2) After answering a question referred to in subsection (1), the court may refer a medical question to a Medical Panel for an opinion. (3) If, under subsection (2), the court refers a medical question to a Medical Panel, the court must provide the Medical Panel with— (a) a copy of the question and the court's answer to the question; and (b) any reasons published by the court in relation to the question; and (c) any further documents the court considers appropriate. (4) In forming an opinion on a medical question referred to a Medical Panel under subsection (2), the Medical Panel is bound by the answer to the question stated and answered by the court under subsection (1).