Lawyers pose health risk: study. 23/02/2005. ABC News Online

Lawyers pose health risk: study

By Nick Grimm for The World Today

New medical research suggests lawyers could be bad for your health.

The study demonstrated an inverse relationship between lawyers and the recovery rates of accident victims.

Dr Richard Gun, lead author of the research reported in this week's Medical Observer, has found patients who engage a lawyer after receiving their injury are five times less likely ever to return to work.

He says they also appear to suffer more pain and for longer periods than accident victims who do not have lawyers.

"We did find that people who consulted a lawyer did certainly appear to have a delayed recovery," he said.

"I suppose some lawyers may argue that people who have more disability - who feel more pain - are the ones who are more likely to have a prolonged recovery and also the ones who are more likely to consult a lawyer."

But he says the research suggests consulting a lawyer itself does have some independent effect of its own in prolonging recovery.

Dr Gun does however caution that there are a number of factors that influence recovery time and lawyers are not the whole reason.

He says the research may have implications for the insurance industry in terms of trying to reduce litigation and speed up the settlement period.