Medico-legal Scar Report
What is a medico-legal scar report?
Main components of a medico-legal scar report:
- Physical Examination: This includes a detailed description of the size of the scar, location on the body/face, color and texture
- Medical History: A review of any GP/hospital records relevant to the index accident is required, to assess treatment received, such as surgeries performed or burns care
- Prognosis: An expert witness opinion is provided as to whether the scar has matured, will improve, remain permanent, or continue to cause functional issues
- Treatment Recommendations: A medico-legal scar report contains advice on future remedial treatments, such scar revision surgery, laser therapy, or skin camouflage
A medico-legal scar report will also assess the Psychological Impact of the scar to the claimant, including evaluating emotional distress, which may require a potential onward referral to a psychologist or a psychiatrist.
Legal Compliance & Purpose of a medico-legal scar report:
A medico-legal scar report must be Court compliant and follow CPR Compliance. Reports must comply with UK Civil Procedure Rules Part 35, ensuring they are suitable for court. A medico-legal scar report is used in personal injury cases to quantify:
- Description: detailing precise scar measurements, location, color, texture, and elevation of the scar to specify whether this is hypertrophic or a keloid scar
- Mechanism of Injury: this links the scar to a specific injury, accident, act of violence, or in some cases negligence
- Functional Impact: to assess restrictions which the scaring has on daily activities, whether movement is affected or on future employment prospects
- Psychological Impact: this documents any emotional distress caused because of the scarring, embarrassment, or potential PTSD associated with the appearance of the scar
- Prognosis and Treatment: the report contains future treatment recommendations which may be beneficial to the scar such as laser therapies, cosmetic skin camouflage products or any surgical revision, with estimated costs
Who provides medico-legal scar reports?
A qualified and trained expert witness is instructed by a Solicitor, medico-legal agency (MRO) or an Insurer to produce a scar medico-legal report. A plastic surgeon, skin camouflage specialist, or dermatologist are often used to examine and provide reports.
Scar information
A scar is a mark on the skin, following an injury or a wound which has healed. Most scars will fade over time, which can take up to 2 years or more, but will still be visible. There are some steps you can do to help it heal or improve how it looks.
Advice if you have a scar
- Massage the scar with a water-based cream, such as E45 cream or aqueous cream for a few times a day. It is recommended to massage for up to 10 minutes each time and it is important only massage the scar once the wound is fully healed
- Keep the scar covered when you are in the sun for at least 1 year following the injury and wear clothing to cover the scar, or put a dressing over it
- Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more on your scar when in the sun or during warmer months when the scar is exposed
- For further information on scars please click on the clink here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scars/
Our expert witness scar specialists take into account the impact of the scar injuries, both physically and psychologically. In many cases, the impact of scarring can affect self-confidence, work life and the ability to perform normal day to day duties. Scars can also have an influence on social life and relationships with family and friends.
Contact us today to instruct our medico-legal scar report expert witnesses: click here
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