Policy
Permanent disability awards for impotence and sterility are granted in the following circumstances.
Impotence
Trauma to the genital organs with physical scarring and/or partial or total destruction of these organs is not considered as the basis for a permanent disability award unless it interferes with the worker's ability to carry out normal bodily functions of excretion of urine, or there is a resultant and direct development of impotence.
Impotence may occur in cases of the loss of one or both testes. However, this is a psychological rather than an organic problem and the condition is dealt with as a psychological disability. Entitlement to a permanent disability award is determined in keeping with the policy governing psychological disability.
Sterility
The loss of both testes automatically causes sterility and an award for permanent disability is granted.
The loss of one testicle pre-disposes a worker to sterility in the event of future injury or disease and a reduced award is granted.
Guidelines
| Condition | Percentage award |
|---|---|
| Sterility - female | Considered on an individual basis |
| Sterility - male - loss of both testes | 10% |
| Sterility - male - loss of one testicle | 2% |
| Sterility - male - loss of penis and/or partial loss of penis and/or both testes | 10% |
| Sterility - male - sterility due to non-traumatic causes including radiation and exposure to toxic chemical(s) | 10% |
| Impotence - female | Considered on an individual basis |
| Impotence - male - direct trauma to penis resulting in impotence | 10% |
| Impotence - male - loss of penis and/or partial loss resulting in impotence | 10% |
| Residual physical impairment - female & male - residual physical impairment such as urethral stricture requiring ongoing treatment | Assessed on an individual basis |
| Secondary psychological disability - female & male - entitlement for psychological disability secondary to either impotence or sterility | Determined in accordance with policies for that condition* |
* See 15-04-02, Psychotraumatic Disability.
Application date
This policy applies to all decisions made on or after June 1, 2023, for accidents occurring before January 2, 1990.
Document history
This document replaces 15-04-06 dated October 12, 2004.
This document was previously published as:
03-03-10 dated October 1989.
References
Legislative authority
Workers' Compensation Act, R.S.O. 1980
Sections 45(1), 132
Minute
Administrative
#3, May 25, 2023, page 616