Independent medical assessment

An independent medical assessment answers a defined question about a person's psychiatric condition for a legal or insurance decision. It is not a clinical consultation, and it does not create a treating relationship.

Dr Siddle has undertaken these assessments for more than fifteen years. She was a member of the WorkCover Queensland Independent Medical Examiner panel from 2017 to 2025, and has advised Australian Retirement Trust on psychiatric matters since 2018. Dr Siddle has been a member of the Psychiatric Assessment Tribunals since 2011 and Deputy Chair since 2017.

Dr Siddle has completed more than 1000 independent psychiatric assessments for insurers, self-insurers, superannuation funds, employers, medical defence organisations, tribunals, courts and government agencies.

• Whether a psychiatric condition is present, and the diagnosis
• Whether, and to what extent, work or another event contributed to it
• Current capacity for work, in the person's own role or in any role
• Prognosis and the treatment that is reasonable
• Degree of permanent impairment, where instructed
• Whether an earlier opinion is supported by the evidence available now

Matters commonly arise under the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld), in income protection and total and permanent disability claims, in CTP and MAIC matters, in public liability and medical negligence claims, and in disputes about fitness to return to work.

Dr Siddle is GEPI-trained and has assessed permanent impairment for fifteen years, through the General Medical Assessment Tribunal and as an independent examiner. Impairment is assessed where the instructing party asks for it, alongside diagnosis, causation and capacity, and the basis for the rating is set out in the report.

1. Brief and documents. The referring party will send the claim file, medical records, prior reports, and the specific questions needing to be answered.
2. Interview. The independent assessment will usually take one to two hours. The subject is informed of the independence of the assessment and that the report will go to the referrer. Assessments are conducted in Dr Siddle's rooms at Spring Hill or by telehealth. Home visits are not undertaken.
3. Report. Dr Siddle will provide a report including the assessment and her response to the specific questions. Reports are usually provided within one week.