Should quality of life depend on the ability to claim compensation, ask Philippa Luscombe & Helen Hammond
The benefits system has been a subject of hot debate over recent years, with “benefits cheats” and “scroungers” used as labels in the press. Those who over-use or abuse the NHS are also often flagged by the media also, albeit that the NHS itself is targeted for more criticism.
Often forgotten within this debate is that there are very many deserving individuals for whom the benefits system and the NHS often fails to provide a reasonable standard of living taking into account the very severe disabilities they suffer.
Polarisation
The standard of living experienced by those with disabilities can be polarised between those who rely on government provision to help them cope with their disabilities and those who have successfully pursued a claim for compensation for injuries or disabilities sustained due to negligence. Those who have the ability to claim for their injuries can access high-quality rehabilitation, accommodation, equipment and support to optimise their outcome. But those for whom it was a genuine “accident” have very little
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