What is Direct Causation in terms of health outcomes?
The work exposures are directly responsible for the health outcomes
This type of causation indicates a clear link between exposure and health effects.
Define Contributing Cause.
Several factors led to the disease; work exposure is one of these factors
This acknowledges that multiple elements can influence health outcomes.
What does Acceleration refer to in causation?
The disease process is accelerated by virtue of work exposure
The onset of the disease occurs much sooner than it would have without the exposure.
Explain Precipitation in the context of work exposure.
The work exposure ‘precipitates’ the manifestation of the illness
An underlying tendency or asymptomatic problem becomes clinically manifest due to the exposure.
What is meant by Aggravation in health conditions?
A medical condition may be present already, but work exposure makes it worse
This indicates that existing conditions can be exacerbated by work-related factors.
Under California law, a worker who suffers an on-the-job aggravation of a non-industrial pre-existing disease has sustained what?
a new injury
For example, if a worker with arthritic deterioration falls and cannot continue to work, the fall constitutes an injury.
What constitutes an aggravation under California law?
- Temporary or permanent increase in disability
- Creates a new need for medical treatment
- Requires a change in the existing course of treatment
An aggravation is recognized as a new injury under specific circumstances.
True or false: Symptoms from a flare-up or recurrence of a previous industrial injury constitute a new injury.
FALSE
Responsibility for compensation lies with the employer where the original injury was sustained.
What is an exacerbation of an injury?
A temporary increase in symptoms with NO NEW disability present
Exacerbations, flare-ups, and recurrences are not compensable by the current employer.
Define Proximate Cause in the context of injury and employment.
The causal connection between injury and employment
Employment must contribute at least 1% to be compensable, or at least 51% for psychological injuries.
