The Medico-Legal Questionnaires  - the MLQs were devised by Professor RD Barnes for IMAS - the Independent Medical Assessment Service. MLQs were designed to streamline & improve medico-legal assessment. They were based upon the concept that medico-legal assessment of injury was generally the same whatever the type of injury. On this basis MLQs were therefore devised to investigate:

•     Circumstances and events [of the accident including the injuries]

•     Background situation [before the accident]   

•     Resultant disability, and the

•     Consequential needs [personal and household] of the injured person and the resultant damages.

This is generally the normal pattern of medico-legal assessment of any accident or injury.

MLQuestionnaires are for both:

•     Personal [including criminal and industrial] injuries, and   
•     Medical accidents. 

MLQuestionnaires primarily designed for:

•     Self assessment in essentially -

•     Simple - No / Yes format, but with -

•     Systematic / logical structure that leads to -

•     Abnormal / normal features being defined. Because of this both

•     Positive and negative findings being recorded. Furthermore MLQs are -

•     Easily administered by Clerk / Paralegal and when signed -

•     Signed disclaimer.

MLQs result in

•     Essential information about an accident/injury being:
  •   Obtained
  •   Recorded, and
  •   Transferred
•     With minimum time and cost.
•     Each completed MLQ being:
  •   Comprehensive
  •   Simple, [de-skilled]
  •   Time saving signed record.