POLICY NUMBER: 1. 2. 3

Effective Date: February 1, 1996
Date Issued: December 1, 1995
Date Approved by Board of Directors: October 4, 1995
Topic: Voluntary Autopsy Reports - Deceased Pneumonoconiosis Pensioners
Section: Entitlement
Subsection: Occupational Diseases

Policy Statement

1. The following procedure is followed in connection with voluntary autopsy reports from pathologists on deceased miners who are receiving pneumonoconiosis disability pensions.

1.1 The pathologists in the Cape Breton area be informed that in all cases in which autopsy is carried out on one of the claimants who has been diagnosed as having Coal Miners' Pneumonoconiosis and where it is felt this condition has directly caused or played a significant part in the claimant's death, that one whole lung be sent as soon as possible to the Pathology Institute in Halifax. Appropriate identification will be sent with each lung.

1.2 The W.C.B. accepts responsibility for the cost of containers used to transport the lungs, together with the transportation costs.

1.3 The Pathology Institute will review the lung in gross and microscopic detail and the report will be sent to the W.C.B. However, prior to this report, the Pathology Institute will have available all medical information that the W.C.B. has on file which will be sent as soon as the W.C.B. is aware that an autopsy as outlined in Item 1 has taken place, and all reports are received.

1.4 Referral doctors will be sent all medical reports on file, including the autopsy report and hospital summary. They will then arrange to meet to discuss the claim fully.

1.5 The doctors will send a final report giving their opinion concerning what role the claimant's occupational lung condition played in his/her death and whether responsibility should be accepted by the W.C.B.

1.6 The Board should rely heavily on this aforementioned report regarding any decision concerning W.C.B. responsibility.

Application

This Policy applies to all decisions made on or after February 1, 1996.

References

Workers' Compensation Act (Chapter 10, Acts of 1994 - 95), Section 68