Impairment Ratings on Trial: Demystifying the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment for Effective Litigation

Presented by the CBA Alberta  Personal Injury Law (South) Section

On Demand. Originally presented on May 19, 2026.

This Section meeting will provide a practical, litigation-focused analysis of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, with emphasis on how impairment ratings are derived, where they are frequently misunderstood, and how those misunderstandings affect their reception in court. It will compare key methodological differences across the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Editions, clarify the intended purpose and inherent limitations of impairment ratings, and examine the role of clinical judgment, diagnosis-based impairment, and grade modifiers in shaping final Whole Person Impairment values.

Particular attention will be given to inter-physician variability, reliability concerns, and the common sources of discrepancy that arise between experts, equipping counsel with a clear framework for evaluating, challenging, and defending impairment evidence. The session will also address the assessment of mental and behavioural impairment, including the interface between psychological symptoms, functional impact, and impairment rating methodology, and the extent to which mental health conditions are incorporated, interpreted, or overstated within medico-legal opinions.

PRESENTER

Dr. Michael Boucher (Assistant Clinical Professor, McMaster University; Medical Director, Burlington Pain Care)

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