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The functions of the Repatriation Medical Authority are specified in
section 196B of the VEA. The major function of the RMA is to determine
Statements of Principles (SOPs) in respect of particular kinds of injury,
disease or death, based on “sound medical-scientific evidence”
for the purpose of applying the applicable standards of proof relating
to veterans matters; the “reasonable hypothesis” standard and
the “reasonable satisfaction” (or “balance of probabilities”)
standard.
A Statement of Principles (SOP) in respect of a particular kind of injury,
disease or death which applies for the purposes of the “reasonable
hypothesis” standard, details the factors that must as a minimum
exist and which of those factors must be related to service rendered by
a person, before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been
raised connecting an injury, disease or death of that kind with the circumstances
of that service.
A SOP which applies for the purposes of the “reasonable satisfaction”
standard, sets out the factors that must exist, and which of those factors
must be related to service rendered by a person, before it can be said
that, on the balance of probabilities, an injury, disease or death of
that kind is connected with the circumstances of that service.
Given the nature of the above, it can be seen that the RMA is not concerned
with individual claims or cases but with the task of developing Statements
of Principles in order for the Repatriation Commission to assess claims
for disability pension.
Another function of the RMA is to conduct investigations either on its
own initiative or when it receives a request under section 196E of the
VEA in respect of a particular kind of injury, disease or death. Investigations
may lead to the determination of a new Statement of Principles, or an
amendment of an existing Statement of Principles depending upon whether
the RMA is of the view that there is sufficient sound medical-scientific
evidence on which it can rely to make the new Statement of Principles
or amendment.
A Statement of Principles is a disallowable instrument for the purposes
of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
Sound medical-scientific evidence is defined in section 5AB(2) of the
VEA as follows:
Information about a particular kind of injury, disease or death
is taken to be sound medical-scientific evidence if:
(a) the information:
(i) is consistent with material relating to medical science
that has been published in a medical or scientific publication and
has been, in the opinion of the Repatriation Medical Authority, subjected
to a peer review process; or
(ii) in accordance with generally accepted medical practice,
would serve as the basis for the diagnosis and management of a medical
condition; and
(b) in the case of information about how that kind of injury,
disease or death may be caused - meets the applicable criteria for assessing
causation currently applied in the field of epidemiology.
This page last updated 13
October 2000.
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