313Opinions

313 Opinions

S. 313(1) amended by No. 44/2014 s. 12.

(1) Subject to section 312, a Medical Panel must form its opinion on a medical question referred to it—

(a) within 60 days after the Medical Panel receives from the Convenor the documents relating to the medical question; or

S. 313(1)(b) amended by No. 73/2016 s. 21(3).

(b) within such longer period as is agreed by ACCS, a court, VCAT, the Authority or the self-insurer.

(2) The Medical Panel to whom a medical question is so referred must give a certificate as to its opinion and a written statement of reasons for that opinion.

S. 313(3) amended by No. 73/2016 s. 21(13).

(3) Within 7 days after forming its opinion on a medical question referred to it, a Medical Panel must give ACCS, the court, VCAT or the Authority or the self-insurer its written opinion and a written statement of reasons for that opinion.

(4) For the purposes of determining any question or matter, the opinion of a Medical Panel on a medical question referred to the Medical Panel—

(a) is to be adopted and applied by any court, body or person; and

(b) must be accepted as final and conclusive by any court, body or person—

irrespective of who referred the medical question to the Medical Panel or when the medical question was referred.

Division 4—Determination by courts and recognition of determinations