ACC accused of unethical practice

ACC is accused of a serious breach of ethical standards for its practice of changing counsellors' diagnoses with the stroke of a pen.

And while ACC acknowledges the practice, it says it is fully entitled to make the call.

Several sexual abuse counsellors are incensed at the action, confirming to the Taranaki Daily News that their initial diagnoses have been changed by ACC psychologists who oversee the files in Wellington.

They allege that the ACC psychologist is changing the diagnosis despite never having met the client.

The counsellors say the practice is unethical and are asking for the New Zealand psychologists Board to take action.

The accusation has come in the wake of angry reaction from sexual abuse counsellors across the country at ACC's rejection of many of their clients' claims in recent months.

The counsellors say that since December, 67 per cent of sexual abuse claims submitted to ACC have either been declined or sent back for further information.

The counsellors believe ACC's hard-line tactics are leaving the sexually-violated in hiatus and families in disarray.

One counsellor affected, New Plymouth counsellor Bob Stevens, of Safer Centre, says he has grave concerns around the ethics of an ACC psychologist who has "diagnosed from a distance", without ever having met his client.

In Mr Stevens' client's case, his diagnosis of a client had been changed by ACC from his own of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to depression and sexual function disorder.

"And they haven't even seen him. How can anyone diagnose from a distance? It is a scandal. How dare the citizens of New Zealand be treated with such contempt? If there is a need to streamline the system, do it, but don't take it out on the vulnerable who have no voice."

The effect of tagging the client with a serious mental health illness would follow them all their life, Mr Stevens said.

National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together spokeswoman, Dr Kim McGregor, of Auckland, backed Mr Stevens' complaint.

She is gathering files from counsellors in other parts of the country, some of whom also allege that their diagnoses have been changed by ACC.

ACC's senior medical adviser, Dr Peter Jansen, responded yesterday that counsellors sometimes make a diagnosis of PTSD.

"However, this is a medical diagnosis which requires specific training and qualifications most counsellors do not have," Dr Jansen said.

When ACC staff received a PTSD diagnosis from counsellors they needed to seek more information to ensure that the client received the right treatment, Dr Jansen said.

"ACC psychological advisers do not necessarily need to assess clients directly but they do require appropriate information from experts," Dr Jansen said.

The options included: Seeking additional information from the counsellor, seeking more information from others who have seen the client, seeking an independent assessment, or advice from clinicians employed within ACC.

Those clinicians include the medical adviser, the psychologist adviser, the peer reviewers or the clinical services directorate, Dr Jansen said.

- © Fairfax NZ News