Merchant Seamen Compensation Act

Marginal note:Minister may refer matter to medical referee

• 28 (1) If a seaman has, on their employer’s request, submitted themselves for examination, or has been examined by a duly qualified medical practitioner selected by themselves, and a copy of the medical practitioner’s report on the seaman’s condition has been furnished in the former case by the employer to the seaman and in the latter case by the seaman to the employer, the Minister may, on the application of either of them or of his or her own motion, refer the matter to a medical referee.

• Marginal note:Certificate of medical referee

  (2) The medical referee to whom a reference is made under subsection (1) or who has examined the seaman by the Minister’s direction under subsection 27(1) shall certify to the Minister as to the condition of the seaman and their fitness for employment, specifying, if necessary, the kind of employment and, if unfit, the cause and degree of the unfitness, and the referee’s certificate, unless the Minister otherwise directs, is conclusive as to the matters certified.

• Marginal note:Right suspended in case refusal of examination

  (3) When a seaman does not submit himself for examination when required to do so under subsection 27(1) or on being required to do so does not submit himself for examination to a medical referee under that subsection or under subsection (1) of this section, or in any way obstructs any examination, his right to compensation, or if he is in receipt of a weekly or other periodical payment, his right to it, is suspended until the examination has taken place.

• Marginal note:Diminution or suspension of compensation

  (4) The Minister may diminish the compensation to which a seaman is entitled, or suspend payment of it, whenever the seaman persists in dangerous or unsanitary practices imperilling or retarding their cure and whenever they refuse to submit to any medical treatment that the Minister, on the medical referee’s advice, considers necessary for their cure.

• Marginal note:Reasonable refusal

  (5) Subsection (4) does not apply in the event of the seaman reasonably refusing to submit to surgical aid.