Dr. Cassidy's study on no-fault insurance: supporting another shock absorber

Dr. Cassidy's study on no-fault insurance:

supporting another shock absorber

Nipawin - April 21, 2000 - By: Mario deSantis

shock
absorbers
Our compassionate socialistic and liberal governments like to work within an environment of

global competition as envisioned by the World Trade Organization and at the same time they

like to implement shock absorbers to have a social and economic system where individual

initiative and diversity is suffocated on behalf of paternalism and conformism. In Saskatchewan,

we have shock absorbers in our provincial budgetary processes, we have shock absorbers in the

Workers Compensation Board, we have shock absorbers in the Saskatchewan Government

Insurance, we have shock absorbers in the administration of health services, we have shock

absorbers in our legal processes, we have shock absorbers everywhere, and we have shock

absorbers in the entourage of people working for Premier Roy Romanow.

rights to
pursue a remedial
legal recourse
We have emphasised in our writing that a component for measuring our democracy is the extent

to which we can use our individual rights to pursue a remedial legal recourse for a wrong we have

been subjected⁽¹⁾. The more shock absorbers we have, the less individual rights we have, and the

more bureaucratic and lethargic our social and economic system becomes.

statistical
analysis
So, yesterday, we have a study by Dr. David Cassidy, a health researcher at the University of

Alberta, supporting the shock absorber "no-fault insurance system⁽²⁾." In this study,

Dr. Cassidy uses the objective tools of statistical analysis to conclude that people recover

twice as fast from whiplash and related traffic injuries if they cannot sue for pain and

suffering. Dr. Cassidy says a system which allows people to sue forces them to focus on

their injuries, instead of on getting better.

Studies on no-fault insurance
have been disgraced
I have my reservations about Dr. Cassidy's conclusion, first because many statistical studies

sponsored by governmental agencies are flawed⁽³⁾, and second because his conclusion is

rationalized by the supposed psychological motivation that under a no-fault insurance system

the injured focus on getting better rather than on his/her injuries. Studies on no-fault insurance

have been disgraced by claims that the related data could have been falsified⁽⁴⁾, and by the recent

resignation of Justice Thomas Wakeling from the committee that was established to review the

Saskatchewan's no-fault insurance plan⁽⁵⁾. Therefore, I express my reservations about Dr.

Cassidy's conclusion and my perception for the validity of this conclusion rests on the answers

to these two simple questions:

-Was the psychological motivation of Dr. Cassidy to receive funds for his

research greater than the psychological motivation for the injured
to have a legal remedy?

-Which agency provided the funds for carrying Dr. Cassidy's research?

If you, reader, have the answers to the above questions, please let me know and we will be a step

closer to understand the state of dementia of our Big Brain⁽⁶⁾.

------------Endnotes:

Quote by Donella Meadows "challenging a paradigm is not a part-time job. It is not sufficient to make your point once and then blame the world for not getting it. The world has a vested interest in, a commitment to, not getting it. The point has to be made patiently and repeatedly, day after day after day" ftp://sysdyn.mit.edu/ftp/sdep/Roadmaps/RM1/D-4143-1.pdf http://iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/meadows/default.htm

General reference: Articles by Mario deSantis published by North Central Internet News http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/authors/desantis.html

1.
-
Bad faith and paper legislation to cover the assets of SaskWater, by Mario deSantis, April 17, 2000

2.
+
Sask whiplash victims recover faster under no-fault: study, CBC Saskatchewan http://sask.cbc.ca/ Web Posted | Apr 19 2000 5:43 PM

3.
The misuse of Statistics as a scientific tool, by Mario deSantis, January 18, 2000

4.
-
SGI accused of meddling: Researcher claims she was told to falsify no-fault insurance study, by Kim McNairn, The StarPhoenix, May 14, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

5.
-
WAKELING RESIGNATION ANNOUNCED, Saskatchewan Government, News Release, Crown Investments Corporation - 190 April 12, 2000 http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/2000/04/12-190.html

6.
-
Honourable Janice MacKinnon and the NDP Government: Spin-doctoring the Truth, by Mario deSantis, February 21, 2000

------------Additional References:

Here are some current other Saskatchewan health studies.

Here is an article critisizing Dr. Cassidy and his association with things.

Here you will find some referenses to other work and projects of Dr. Cassidy

Interesting article referring to Dr. Cassidy's research into Whiplash and no-fault.

Dr. Hugh Anton discusses presentations at a conference on Dr. Cassidy's findings

------------Reader Response:

Ensign received this first person explanation of the system being used by SGI and how their "study" and its results are much more then suspect. This response is not very long as the writer who's name is not being published because of possible repercussions from government agencies, was unable to do a longer explanation because of the pain and discomfort he experiences from his injuries.

Click "Here" to go to Ensign Front page
Ensign, North Central Internet News, published daily by Faster Than Light Communications, FTLComm

Dr. Cassidy's study on no-fault insurance: supporting another shock absorber

*Nipawin - April 21, 2000 - By: Mario deSantis*

shock absorbers	Our compassionate socialistic and liberal governments like to work within an environment of
	global competition as envisioned by the World Trade Organization and at the same time they
	like to implement shock absorbers to have a social and economic system where individual
	initiative and diversity is suffocated on behalf of paternalism and conformism. In Saskatchewan,
	we have shock absorbers in our provincial budgetary processes, we have shock absorbers in the
	Workers Compensation Board, we have shock absorbers in the Saskatchewan Government
	Insurance, we have shock absorbers in the administration of health services, we have shock
	absorbers in our legal processes, we have shock absorbers everywhere, and we have shock
	absorbers in the entourage of people working for Premier Roy Romanow.

rights to pursue a remedial legal recourse	We have emphasised in our writing that a component for measuring our democracy is the extent
	to which we can use our individual rights to pursue a remedial legal recourse for a wrong we have
	been subjected⁽¹⁾. The more shock absorbers we have, the less individual rights we have, and the
	more bureaucratic and lethargic our social and economic system becomes.

statistical analysis	So, yesterday, we have a study by Dr. David Cassidy, a health researcher at the University of
	Alberta, supporting the shock absorber "no-fault insurance system⁽²⁾." In this study,
	Dr. Cassidy uses the objective tools of statistical analysis to conclude that people recover
	twice as fast from whiplash and related traffic injuries if they cannot sue for pain and
	suffering. Dr. Cassidy says a system which allows people to sue forces them to focus on
	their injuries, instead of on getting better.

Studies on no-fault insurance have been disgraced	I have my reservations about Dr. Cassidy's conclusion, first because many statistical studies
	sponsored by governmental agencies are flawed⁽³⁾, and second because his conclusion is
	rationalized by the supposed psychological motivation that under a no-fault insurance system
	the injured focus on getting better rather than on his/her injuries. Studies on no-fault insurance
	have been disgraced by claims that the related data could have been falsified⁽⁴⁾, and by the recent
	resignation of Justice Thomas Wakeling from the committee that was established to review the
	Saskatchewan's no-fault insurance plan⁽⁵⁾. Therefore, I express my reservations about Dr.
	Cassidy's conclusion and my perception for the validity of this conclusion rests on the answers
	to these two simple questions:
	-Was the psychological motivation of Dr. Cassidy to receive funds for his research greater than the psychological motivation for the injured to have a legal remedy?
	-Which agency provided the funds for carrying Dr. Cassidy's research?

	If you, reader, have the answers to the above questions, please let me know and we will be a step
	closer to understand the state of dementia of our Big Brain⁽⁶⁾.

------------Endnotes:

	Quote by Donella Meadows "challenging a paradigm is not a part-time job. It is not sufficient to make your point once and then blame the world for not getting it. The world has a vested interest in, a commitment to, not getting it. The point has to be made patiently and repeatedly, day after day after day" ftp://sysdyn.mit.edu/ftp/sdep/Roadmaps/RM1/D-4143-1.pdf http://iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/meadows/default.htm

	General reference: Articles by Mario deSantis published by North Central Internet News http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/authors/desantis.html

1. -	Bad faith and paper legislation to cover the assets of SaskWater, by Mario deSantis, April 17, 2000

2. +	Sask whiplash victims recover faster under no-fault: study, CBC Saskatchewan http://sask.cbc.ca/ Web Posted \| Apr 19 2000 5:43 PM

3.	The misuse of Statistics as a scientific tool, by Mario deSantis, January 18, 2000

4. -	SGI accused of meddling: Researcher claims she was told to falsify no-fault insurance study, by Kim McNairn, The StarPhoenix, May 14, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

5. -	WAKELING RESIGNATION ANNOUNCED, Saskatchewan Government, News Release, Crown Investments Corporation - 190 April 12, 2000 http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/2000/04/12-190.html

6. -	Honourable Janice MacKinnon and the NDP Government: Spin-doctoring the Truth, by Mario deSantis, February 21, 2000

------------Additional References:

	Here are some current other Saskatchewan health studies.

	Here is an article critisizing Dr. Cassidy and his association with things.

	Here you will find some referenses to other work and projects of Dr. Cassidy

	Interesting article referring to Dr. Cassidy's research into Whiplash and no-fault.

	Dr. Hugh Anton discusses presentations at a conference on Dr. Cassidy's findings

------------Reader Response:
	Ensign received this first person explanation of the system being used by SGI and how their "study" and its results are much more then suspect. This response is not very long as the writer who's name is not being published because of possible repercussions from government agencies, was unable to do a longer explanation because of the pain and discomfort he experiences from his injuries.