Statement of Principles concerning accidental hypothermia No. 376 of 1995 (Cth)

Instrument No.376 of 1995

Statement of Principles

concerning

ACCIDENTAL HYPOTHERMIA

ICD CODE: 991.6

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
subsection 196B(2)

1.         Being of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that accidental hypothermia and death from accidental hypothermia can be related to operational service rendered by veterans, peacekeeping service rendered by members of Peacekeeping Forces and hazardous service rendered by members of the Forces, the Repatriation Medical Authority determines, under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act1986 (the Act), that the factors that must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting accidental hypothermia or death from accidental hypothermia with the circumstances of that service, are:

(a)       being exposed to low environmental temperature at the time of the clinical onset of accidental hypothermia; or

(b)       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for accidental hypothermia.

2.         Subject to clause 3 (below) at least one of the factors set out in paragraphs 1(a) to 1(b) must be related to any service rendered by a person.

3.         The factor set out in paragraph 1(b) applies only where:

(a)       the person’s accidental hypothermia was suffered before a period, or part of a period, of service to which the factor is related; and

(b)       the relationship suggested between the accidental hypothermia and the particular service of a person is a relationship set out in paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e), 70(5)(d) or 70(5A)(d) of the Act.

4.         For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:

“accidental hypothermia” means an unintentional lowering of core body temperature to 35Celsius or less due to exposure to cold environmental temperature, attracting ICD code 991.6; but not including hypothermia following anaesthesia or hypothermia not associated with low environmental temperature;

“ICD code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in the Australian Version of The International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), effective date of 1 July 1995, copyrighted by the National Coding Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, and having ISBN 0 642 22235 5.

Dated this  Twenty-third  day of November 1995

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of:   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN