Rehabilitation Physicians

What is a Rehabilitation Physician?

A rehabilitation physician is concerned with diagnosing, evaluating, and treating patients with physical disabilities. Disabilities can arise from conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, including:

Neck and back pain
Sports injuries
Other painful conditions affecting the limbs
Disabilities can result from neurological trauma or disease, such as spinal cord injury, head injury or stroke.

Our Consultants

Dr Jan Paul Rotinen Diaz

M.B., F.R.C.A.M. (RACP), C.I.M.E., E.B.P.M.R., G.E.P.I.

View specialist

Dr Leigh Atkinson AO

M.B., B.S., F.R.A.C.S., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S. (Edin), F.F.P.M. (A.N.Z.C.A.), F.A.F.R.M. (R.A.C.P.), C.I.M.E., G.E.P.I.

View specialist

Dr Vernon Hill

M.B., B.S., BPthy., F.R.C.A.M.

View specialist

How Rehabilitation Physicians contribute to medicolegal matters

Their role is to offer objective, clinically grounded insight that assists lawyers, insurers, regulators and courts to understand recovery following injury or illness, how function and capacity have been assessed over time, and how rehabilitation needs and outcomes may relate to the issues in dispute.

Typically, medicolegal rehabilitation physicians provide:

File reviews involving medical records, rehabilitation reports, functional assessments, and treatment history
Expert advisory input on whether rehabilitation assessment, planning, and management aligned with accepted standards of practice at the time
Opinion on functional recovery, capacity, prognosis, and long-term rehabilitation needs
Independent Medical Examinations in matters where recovery, functional ability, or rehabilitation outcomes are central to the issues being considered
Impairment reporting where injury or illness has contributed to ongoing functional limitation
Supplementary reports to clarify or expand opinion as new information or questions arise
Expert witness work in civil claims, regulatory matters, or inquests, including participation in conferences, hearings, or court
Specialist rehabilitation opinion in matters involving complex injury, multi-disciplinary care, or catastrophic outcomes

Need an opinion from a Rehabilitation Physician?

Contact our team to discuss the scope of your matter and next steps.