DLA Troubles - ATOS liars!

cit_k

sabredon wrote: »

When they do home visits, they ask the claimant to sign the bottom of the report to signify that they are in complete agreement with its contents.

So many just sign it without reading the whole report.

Shame really as that more or less blows the appeal out of the window

In that case, ask the GMC what the position is with being allowed sufficient time to read the medical report properly, and to digest its contents, as it seems unfair and unethical to expect a claimaint who is not medically trained to quickly read a document and understand it, when they should be allowed sufficient time to read it all, sufficient time to check everything in detail, when not under the stress of an ongoing assessment.

I would have thought, there would be no problems allowing the claimaint a few days to check it over, before consenting its accurate, but thats up to the GMC to decide.

They have a good helpline for this sort of thing, the number is on their website.

Make sure you explain the history, their reluctance (refusal point blank under any circumstances) to allow it to be recorded and the stress you are under during an assessment to ensure they get the picture that signing for a complex report in a hurry is unethical.

Oldernotwiser

cit_k wrote: »

Its amazing how many disabled people who work tend to derail threads with thoughtless comments.

And how many who don't work jump in with their own paranoid agenda.;)

Oldernotwiser

eskimo26 wrote: »

Your personal opinion is complete nonsense as usual really i was going to say more but why waste my time and energy.

I totally agree - don't bother.

clemmatis

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If people on benefits are buying Tesco's Finest then we're paying too much in benefits to them!

You couldn't hire a chef for £20 a week but you could, if you so wished, pay someone to do a couple of hours' cooking for you which would provide you with home made meals for the week.

Yes, I thought the Tesco Finest comment would bring retaliation. Clearly the government didn't like the thought either, it's scrapped the cooking test and -- in effect -- announced that disabled people who can't cook properly can live on cheap ready meals, unhealthy, packed with salt and additives.

(The "cooking test" though was a general test, covering more than cooking. So the money would have to buy more than cooking time.)


So you can cheer up, we won't be getting the money anyway.

cit_k

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

And how many who don't work jump in with their own paranoid agenda.;)

Examples of someone jumping in with their own paranoid agenda?

cit_k

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

And how many who don't work jump in with their own paranoid agenda.;)

And of course, how many people jump in to attack posters, rather than stay on topic, and do so without a shred of evidence as per usual.
As evidenced by your own comment.

Anubis_2

cit_k wrote: »

Out of interest, at your last DLA assessment (as I have never had a DLA one) did the assessor offer to show you a copy of the full medical report before it was sent to the DWP decision maker?

It could be a useful point to complain about if he did not, or the next one does not.

Are they required to do this? I know mine didn't show me mine, but I got a copy when I requested it after the award was made, which was then HRM MRC.

The Atos Dr who came was quite abrupt to say the least, but his report and assessment equalled medical evidence at the time.

He had wrote down some strange things though such as the house and my appearance being "unkempt" :eek: To be fair I haven't had a haircut in years, but the house being unkempt in his opinion should have no bearing on the matter! He also mentioned my feet - soft foot
base, along with his medical results such as neuro/ asthma/ heart tests etc, not sure what the base of my foot has to do with such tests :rotfl:

Anyway would be handy to know if they are meant to show you the report? He only read out what myself and my carer stated, he never showed or read anything he had put.

FTW

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum in regards to posting but I've browsed the site and forum many many times over the years but now I'd like a bit of advice.

I applied for DLA in December, a few months ago an ATOS doctor visited me and lied on his report, he wrote that I am the cause of my own disease and that I choose to live a disabled lifestyle, he also lied about the medication I take (he said I rarely take it) so I sent them in a photocopied repeat prescription form which clearly showed how often I take my medication.

He put all this into writing?

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

I made a complaint and I have found out today ATOS has upheld my complaint and agreed with my complaint that my illness is in fact a highly disabling neurological disorder and that the doctor should never had wrote what he said.

ATOS upholding a complaint? That's a rare occurrence.

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

ATOS have now sent me a letter saying they will send another doctor around to examine me, I don't see why this is necessary, could I tell them I don't want a second examination and complain?

Have you reported the first doctor to the GMC, and told the GMC that Atos are wanting to send a second doctor round?

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

I called ATOS earlier and asked if i could record the examination for my own safety and protection, they said they wouldn't be willing to conduct the examination under those circumstances.

It's not up to them to tell you that - especially if the examination is taking place under your roof.

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

What if I recorded the examination anyway? As it's in my own home I don't see how I would be breaking any laws

You wouldn't be breaking any laws.

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

, could I use the recording if the claim went to tribunal?

Yes.

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

,Could I submit it to the DWP?

No need to submit it to them. Even if you did, they'd still rubber-stamp whatever garbage Atos tells them anyway.

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

,I'm really scared ATOS are sending out another doctor just to screw me over again, even though I had someone with me last time it didn't stop the doctor from lying.

Try to have someone there with you again if they do conduct another assessment.

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

Please help/advise.

I'd audio-record the assessment without telling them you're doing it. You don't have to tell them.

If you're in your own home, video-recording would be even better, and then that way, if you need to appeal, you'll have excellent evidence and a 100% accurate record of what took place.

FTW

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

Do you know of any examples where those recording were used in tribunals?

Yes, mine. First assessment I ever attended with riddled with lies, so when I was called in again a couple of years later, I went prepared, and recorded the whole thing (I didn't tell them I was doing this).

I put it into transcript form as well, explained also in writing to the Tribunal Service why I took the decision to record it, and ultimately succeeded in getting the original verdict reversed.

Oldernotwiser

clemmatis wrote: »

Yes, I thought the Tesco Finest comment would bring retaliation. Clearly the government didn't like the thought either, it's scrapped the cooking test and -- in effect -- announced that disabled people who can't cook properly can live on cheap ready meals, unhealthy, packed with salt and additives.

Very few non disabled people cook elaborate meals from scratch; the idea that disabled people should be compensated for not being able to do so was a bit silly.