Psychologists are increasingly being asked to fudge diagnosis for clients with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental injuries, so that ACC can be claimed.
Currently someone who sustains a mental injury due to a one-off event can claim for injury cover, but not those who may have the same injury due to multiple events over time.
It leaves psychologists with the ethical dilemma of acknowledging the cumulative trauma - or asking clients to pick one event.
There is a consensus across medical professionals that the situation is non-sensical.
The New Zealand College Of Clinical Psychologists has even gone so far as to draft up its own amendment to the ACC legislation which would rectify the anomaly.
Paul Skirrow is a clinical psychologist and an executive advisor to the College. he also is a senior lecturer at the University of Otago.
Kathryn also talks to Josh Darby, a career firefighter and advocate for change.
Photo: 123RF
