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Substantiating psychological injury under the federal employees' compensation act
Author(s) -
Maffeo Patricia A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2370080409
Subject(s) - statute , compensation (psychology) , agency (philosophy) , work (physics) , administration (probate law) , occupational safety and health , psychology , mental health , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , suicide prevention , business , applied psychology , medicine , political science , law , social psychology , medical emergency , engineering , psychiatry , sociology , mechanical engineering , social science
Abstract This paper examines the administration of the Federal Employees Compensation Act by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). It examines compensation claims originating at a large federal agency with a psychological component as either cause or consequence of a work‐related injury. Patterns of case outcomes are noted to be similar to those in other jurisdictions, and are discussed in terms of dirticdty of proof and policy preferences. Possible anomalies in the administration of the statutes are noted. The paper describes difliculties for mental health professionals attempting to substantiate psychological injuries, and addresses ethical issues related to tension between the nature of science and the requirements of administrative systems. Knowledge regarding idormational requirements and evaluative criteria used by OWCP is necessary to effectively substantiate the work‐relatedness of an injury. The paper provides guidelines concerning these requirements and criteria.