SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 241857, June 17, 2019
CAREER PHILS. SHIPMANAGEMENT, INC., CMA SHIPS UK LIMITED, AND SAMPAGUITA D. MARAVE, PETITIONERS, v. JOHN FREDERICK T. TIQUIO, RESPONDENT.
D E C I S I O N
PERLAS-BERNABE, J.:
Assailed in this petition for review on certiorari1 are the Decision2 dated February 7, 2018 and the Resolution3 dated August 30, 2018 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP No. 145518, which reversed and set aside the Decision4 dated November 26, 2015 and the Resolution5 dated February 29, 2016 of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in NLRC LAC OFW (M)-06-000494-15 and accordingly, reinstated the Decision6 dated April 30, 2015 of the Labor Arbiter (LA) in NLRC-NCR-Case No. 09-10777-14 granting respondent John Frederick T. Tiquio's (Tiquio) claim for total and permanent disability benefits under the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration-Standard Employment Contract (POEA-SEC),7 as well as attorney's fees.
SEC. 20. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITSIn C.F. Sharp Crew Management, Inc. v. Taok,63 cited in Veritas Maritime Corporation v. Gepanaga, Jr. (Veritas),64 the Court has held that a seafarer may have basis to pursue an action for total and permanent disability benefits, if any of the following conditions are present:
A. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR INJURY OR ILLNESS
The liabilities of the employer when the seafarer suffers work-related injury or illness during the term of his contract are as follows:
x x x x
- x x x [I]f after repatriation, the seafarer still requires medical attention arising from said injury or illness, he shall be so provided at cost to the employer until such time he is declared fit or the degree of his disability has been established by the company-designated physician.
- n addition to the above obligation of the employer to provide medical attention, the seafarer shall also receive sickness allowance from his employer in an amount equivalent to his basic wage computed from the time he signed off until he is declared fit to work or the degree of disability has been assessed by the company-designated physician. The period within which the seafarer shall be entitled to his sickness allowance shall not exceed 120 days, x x x
x x x x
For this purpose, the seafarer shall submit himself to a post-employment medical examination by a company-designated physician within three working days upon his return except when he is physically incapacitated to do so, in which case, a written notice to the agency within the same period is deemed as compliance. In the course of the treatment, the seafarer shall also report regularly to the company-designated physician specifically on the dates as prescribed by the company-designated physician and agreed to by the seafarer. Failure of the seafarer to comply with the mandatory reporting requirement shall result in his forfeiture of the right to claim the above benefits.
If a doctor appointed by the seafarer disagrees with the assessment, a third doctor may be agreed jointly between the Employer and the seafarer. The third doctor's decision shall be final and binding on both parties.
x x x x (Emphasis supplied)
In this case, it is undisputed that Tiquio filed the complaint without the assessment of a third doctor reconciling the apparent conflicting assessments of his personal doctor and of the CDP. Clearly, he failed to comply with the prescribed procedure under the above-cited Section 20 (A) (3) of the 2010 POEA-SEC on the joint appointment by the parties of a third doctor, in case the seafarer's personal doctor disagrees with the CDP's assessment. In the recent case of Gargallo v. Dohle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc.,66 citing Veritas, the Court reiterated the well-settled rule that the seafarer's non-compliance with the mandated conflict-resolution procedure under the POEA-SEC militates against his claims, and results in the affirmance of the findings and assessment of the company-designated physician, thus:
(a) The company-designated physician failed to issue a declaration as to his fitness to engage in sea duty or disability even after the lapse of the 120-day period and there is no indication that further medical treatment would address his temporary total disability, hence, justify an extension of the period to 240 days; (b) 240 days had lapsed without any certification issued by the company designated physician; (c) The company-designated physician declared that he is fit for sea duty within the 120-day or 240-day period, as the case may be, but his physician of choice and the doctor chosen under Section 20-B (3) of the POEA-SEC are of a contrary opinion; (d) The company-designated physician acknowledged that he is partially permanently disabled but other doctors who he consulted, on his own and jointly with his employer, believed that his disability is not only permanent but total as well; (e) The company-designated physician recognized that he is totally and permanently disabled but there is a dispute on the disability grading; (f) The company-designated physician determined that his medical condition is not compensable or work-related under the POEA- SEC but his doctor-of-choice and the third doctor selected under Section 20-B (3) of the POEA-SEC found otherwise and declared him unfit to work; (g) The company-designated physician declared him totally and permanently disabled but the employer refuses to pay him the corresponding benefits; and (h) The company-designated physician declared him partially and permanently disabled within the 120-day or 240-day period but he remains incapacitated to perform his usual sea duties after the lapse of said periods.65 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
The [POEA-SEC] and the CBA clearly provide that when a seafarer sustains a work-related illness or injury while on board the vessel, his fitness or unfitness for work shall be determined by the company-designated physician. If the physician appointed by the seafarer disagrees with the company-designated physician's assessment, the opinion of a third doctor may be agreed jointly between the employer and the seafarer to be the decision final and binding on them.Also, in Ayungo v. Beamko Shipmanagement Corporation68the Court considered as prematurely filed the complaint for disability benefits sans prior referral of the conflicting findings of the CDP and the seafarer's physician to a third doctor for final assessment, thus:
Thus, while petitioner had the right to seek a second and even a third opinion, the final determination of whose decision must prevail must be done in accordance with an agreed procedure. Unfortunately, the petitioner did not avail of this procedure; hence, we have no option but to declare that the company-designated doctor's certification is the final determination that must prevail.67
In this case, the findings of Beamko and Eagle Maritime's physicians that Ayungo's illnesses were not work-related were, in turn, controverted by Ayungo's personal doctor stating otherwise. In light of these contrasting diagnoses, Ayungo prematurely filed his complaint before the NLRC without any regard to the conflict-resolution procedure under Section 20(B)(3) of the 2000 POEA-SEC. Thus, consistent with Philippine Hammonia, the Court is inclined to uphold the opinion of Beamko and Eagle Maritime's physicians that Ayungo's illnesses were pre-existing and not work-related, hence, non-compensable.69 (Emphasis supplied)Evidently, Tiquio's failure to observe the conflict-resolution procedure under the POEA-SEC provided sufficient basis for the denial of his claim for total and permanent disability benefits. In fact, the Court observes that when he filed the complaint on September 1, 2014, Tiquio had yet to even present the contrary opinion from a doctor of his choice. It was only on December 16, 2014,70 when he filed his Rejoinder (to [Respondents'] Reply), that Tiquio presented the conflicting medical certificate71 which, interestingly, was obtained only on December 3, 2014. Notably, it bears pointing out that nowhere in said medical certificate was it shown that he consulted the independent doctor prior to the filing of the complaint, as claimed by him. Neither was it shown that he informed petitioners of his consultation with his personal doctor regarding his illness and of the latter's contradictory assessment at any time prior to instituting the disability benefits claim, which events could have triggered the conflict-resolution mechanism of the POEA-SEC.
SECTION 32-A. OCCUPATIONAL DISEASESAs the Court held in Romana v. Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (Romano)79 in contrast with the matter of work-relatedness which is indeed presumed, "no legal presumption of compensability is accorded in favor of the seafarer x x x [and thus], x x x he bears the burden of proving that these conditions are met."80 Citing Licayan v. Seacrest Maritime Management, Inc.,81 Romana more elaborately stated:
For an occupational disease and the resulting disability or death to be compensable, all of the following conditions must be satisfied:
- The seafarer's work must involve the risks described herein:
- The disease was contracted as a result of the seafarer's exposure to the described risks;
- The disease was contracted within a period of exposure and under such other factors necessary to contract it; and
- There was no notorious negligence on the part of the seafarer.
[T]he disputable presumption does not signify an automatic grant of compensation and/or benefits claim, and that while the law disputably presumes an illness not found in Section 32-A to be also wdrk-related, the seafarer/claimant nonetheless is burdened to present substantial evidence that his work conditions caused or at least increased the risk of contracting the disease and only a reasonable proof of work-connection, not direct causal relation is required to establish its compensability."82 (Emphasis and underscoring in the original)To be sure, jurisprudence settles that the legal presumption of work-relatedness of a non-listed illness can be overturned only by contrary substantial evidence as defined above.83 Nonetheless, it must be stressed that in all instances, the seafarer must prove compliance with the conditions for compensability, whether or not the work-relatedness of his illness is disputed by the employer.84 As explained in Romana:
On the one hand, when an employer attempts to discharge the burden of disputing the presumption of work-relatedness (i.e., by either claiming that the illness is preexisting or, even if preexisting, that the risk of contracting or aggravating the same has nothing do with his work), the burden of evidence now shifts to the seafarer to prove otherwise (i.e., that the illness was not preexisting, or even if preexisting, that his work affected the risk of contracting or aggravating the illness). In so doing, the seafarer effectively discharges his own burden of proving compliance with the first three (3) conditions of compensability under Section 32-A of the 2000 POEA-SEC, i.e., that (1) the seafarer's work must involve the risks described herein; (2) the disease was contracted as a result of the seafarer's exposure to the described risks; and (3) the disease was contracted within a period of exposure and under such other factors necessary to contract it. Thus, when the presumption of work-relatedness is contested by the employer, the factors which the seafarer needs to prove to rebut the employer's contestation would necessarily overlap with some of the conditions which the seafarer needs to prove to establish the compensability of his illness and the resulting disability. In this regard, the seafarer, therefore, addresses the refutation of the employer against the work-relatedness of his illness and, at the same time, discharges his burden of proving compliance with certain conditions of compensability.
On the other hand, when an employer does not attempt to discharge the burden of disputing the presumption of work-relatedness, the seafarer must still discharge his own burden of proving compliance with the conditions of compensability, which does not only include the three (3) conditions above-mentioned, but also, the distinct fourth condition, i.e., that there was no notorious negligence on the part of the seafarer. Thereafter, the burden of evidence shifts to the employer to now disprove the veracity of the information presented by the seafarer. The employer may also raise any other affirmative defense which may preclude compensation, such as concealment under Section 20 (E) of the 2000 POEA-SEC or failure to comply with the third-doctor referral provision under Section 20 (B) (3) of the same Contract.In this case, Tiquio's illness, hyperthyroidism secondary to Graves' Disease, is an autoimmune disorder which causes over activity of the thyroid gland leading to the production and release of excess amounts of thyroid hormone into the blood.86 Medical literature defines "autoimmune disorder" as a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.87 The exact cause of Graves' Disease is not certain, however, certain risk factors are known to increase the chances of developing it, i.e., genetics, weight, certain medications, and smoking,88 as well as ethnicity and gender,89 including age, emotional or physical stress, and other autoimmune disorders.90 Graves' Disease is a known common cause of hyperthyroidism.91
Subsequently, if the work-relatedness of the seafarer's illness is not successfully disputed by the employer, and the seafarer is then able to establish compliance with the conditions of compensability, the matter now shifts to a determination of the nature and, in turn, the amount of disability benefits to be paid to the seafarer.85 (Emphasis, italics, and underscoring in the original)
Endnotes:
1Rollo, pp. 31-58.
2 Id. at 65-77. Penned by Associate Justice Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob with Associate Justices Mariflor P. Punzalan Castillo and Samuel H. Gaerlan, concurring.
3 Id. at 78-79.
4CA rollo, pp. 30-42. Penned by Presiding Commissioner Gerardo C. Nograles with Commissioners Gina F. Cenit-Escoto and Romeo L. Go, concurring.
5 Id. at 63-64.
6 Id. at 43-52. Penned by Labor Arbiter Rosalina Maria O. Apita-Battung.
7 POEA Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2010, entitled "Amended Standard Terms and Conditions Governing the Overseas Employment of Filipino Seafarers On-Board Oceangoing Ships" dated October 26, 2010.
8 Spelled as "Philippines" in some parts of the records.
9 See Contract of Employment; CA rollo, p. 149. Prior thereto, Tiquio underwent a Pre-Employment Medical Examination wherein he was declared "fit for sea duty" (see Seafarer's Medical Examination Certificate dated September 3, 2012; id. at 87). See also rollo, p. 66.
10 To note, Tiquio was given paracetamol (see rollo, p. 66).
11 See various medical records; CA rollo, pp. 150-155.
12 See rollo, p. 66.
13 "Grave's Disease" in some parts of the records. See various Medical Certifications; CA rollo, pp. 156- 163. See also rollo, p. 67.
14 See CA rollo, pp. 91-108 and 156-163.
15 Stated as "26 June 2014" in the CA Decision (see rollo, p. 67). Note that the June 26, 2014 Medical Certification was signed by a certain "Dr. Eddie A. Lim," and not by Dr. Fonte (see CA rollo, pp. 107-108); Dr. Fonte's Medical Certification was dated June 23, 2014 (see CA rollo, pp. 105-106).
16 CA rollo, pp.105-106.
17 See various Medical Certifications; id. at 91-106.
18 Id. at 65-66. See also Tiquio's Position Paper dated October 20, 2014; id. at 71-84.
19 See rollo, p. 16 and CA rollo, pp. 32 and 77.
20 See rollo, p. 16 and CA rollo, pp. 32 and 81.
21 See rollo, p. 16 and CA rollo, pp. 32 and 82.
22 See rollo, pp. 15-16 and CA rollo, p. 74. See CA rollo, pp. 74 and 142.
23 See petitioners' Position Paper dated October 27, 2014; CA rollo, pp. 124-145.
24 See also rollo, p. 17 and CA rollo, pp. 32-33.
25 See rollo, p. 17. See also petitioners' Position Paper dated October 27, 2014, and Dr. Fonte's Affidavit dated October 16, 2014; CA rollo, pp. 129-131 and 170-171, respectively.
26 See rollo, p. 17 and CA rollo, p. 32. See also the Final Wages Account and Cash Vouchers; CA rollo, pp. 164-169.
27 CA rollo, pp. 33 and 139-142. See also rollo, p. 17.
28 See Rejoinder (to [Petitioners'] Reply) dated December 8, 2014; CA rollo, pp. 117-121.
29 CA rollo, pp. 122-123. Dr. San Luis diagnosed Tiquio with Graves' Disease "[i]nduced by physical stress and mental stress related to labor at work" and "[p]ossibly caused by paint organic solvents and other chemicals he was exposed to [at] work." (See also rollo, pp. 67-68).
30 CA rollo, pp. 43-52.
31 See id. at 52.
32 707 Phil. 210 (2013). See CA rollo, pp. 46-47.
33 See CA rollo, pp. 47-49.
34 See id at 50-51.
35 See Notice of Appeal with Memorandum of Appeal dated May 26, 2015; id. at 183-201.
36 Id. at 30-42.
37 See id. at 38-39.
38 Id. at 39.
39 SECTION 20. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
A. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR INJURY OR ILLNESS
The liabilities of the employer when the seafarer suffers work-related injury or illness during the term of his contract are as follows:
x x x xFor this purpose, the seafarer shall submit himself to a post-employment medical examination by a company-designated physician within three working days upon his return except when he is physically incapacitated to do so, in which case, a written notice to the agency within the same period is deemed as compliance. In the course of the treatment, the seafarer shall also report regularly to the company-designated physician specifically on the dates as prescribed by the company-designated physician and agreed to by the seafarer. Failure of the seafarer to comply with the mandatory reporting requirement shall result in his forfeiture of the right to claim the above benefits.
- In addition to the above obligation of the employer to provide medical attention, the seafarer shall also receive sickness allowance from his employer in an amount equivalent to his basic wage computed from the time he signed off until he is declared fit to work or the degree of disability has been assessed by the company-designated physician. The period within which the seafarer shall be entitled to his sickness allowance shall not exceed 120 days. Payment of the sickness allowance shall be made on a regular basis, but not less than once a month.
The seafarer shall be entitled to reimbursement of the cost of medicines prescribed by the company-designated physician. In case treatment of the seafarer is on an out-patient basis as determined by the company-designated physician, the company shall approve the appropriate mode of transportation and accommodation. The reasonable cost of actual traveling expenses and/or accommodation shall be paid subject to liquidation and submission of official receipts and/or proof of expenses.
If a doctor appointed by the seafarer disagrees with the assessment, a third doctor may be agreed jointly between the Employer and the seafarer. The third doctor's decision shall be final and binding on both parties.
40 See CA rollo, p. 39.
41 See id.
42 See Tiquio's motion for reconsideration dated December 15, 2015; id. at 53-62.
43 Id. at 63.
44 Dated May 2, 2016. Id. at 3-26.
45Rollo, pp. 65-77.
46 SECTION 32-A OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
For an occupational disease and the resulting disability or death to be compensable, all of the following conditions must be satisfied:
- The seafarer's work must involve the risks described herein;
- The disease was contracted as a result of the seafarer's exposure to the described risks;
- The disease was contracted within a period of exposure and under such other factors necessary to contract it; and
- There was no notorious negligence on the part of the seafarer.
x x x x
47 See rollo, pp. 73-76.
48 See petitioners' motion for reconsideration dated March 8, 2018; id. at 80-94.
49 Id. at 78-79.
50 See Sutherland Global Services (Philippines), Inc. v. Labrador, 730 Phil. 295, 304 (2014); and Aluag v. BIR Multi-Purpose Cooperative, G.R. No. 228449, December 6, 2017.
51 See Montoya v. Trammed Manila Corporation, 613 Phil. 696, 706-707 (2009); Sutherland Global Services (Philippines), Inc. v. Labrador, id.; and Aluag v. BIR Multi-Purpose Cooperative, id.
52Sutherland Global Services (Philippines), Inc. v. Labrador, id.; and Aluag v. BIR Multi-Purpose Cooperative, id.
53 See Montoya v. Transmed Manila Corporation, supra note 51, at 707; Sutherland Global Services (Philippines), Inc. v. Labrador, id.; and Aluag v. BIR Multi-Purpose Cooperative, id.
54Bani Rural Bank, Inc. v. De Guzman, 721 Phil. 84, 99 (2013). See also Philippine Pizza, Inc. v. Cayetano, G.R. No. 230030, August 29, 2018.
55 See Philippine Pizza, Inc. v. Cayetano, id., citing Quebral v. Angbus Construction, Inc., G.R. No. 221897, November 7, 2016, 807 SCRA 176, 184. See also Aluag v. BIR Multi-Purpose Cooperative, supra note 50, citing University of Santo Tomas (UST) v. Samahang Manggagawa ng UST, G.R. No. 184262, April 24, 2017, 824 SCRA 52, 61.
56Philippine Pizza, Inc. v. Cayetano, id., citations omitted; and Aluag v. BIR Multi-Purpose Cooperative, id., citations omitted.
57 See Jebsen Maritime, Inc. v. Ravena, 743 Phil. 371, 385 (2014).
58 ART. 197. [191] Temporary Total Disability - (a) Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, any employee under this Title who sustains an injury or contracts sickness resulting in temporary total disability shall, for each day of such a disability or fraction thereof, be paid by the System an income benefit equivalent to ninety percent of his average daily salary credit, subject to the following conditions: the daily income benefit shall not be less than Ten Pesos nor more than Ninety Pesos, nor paid for a continuous period longer than one hundred twenty days, except as otherwise provided for in the Rules, and the System shall be notified of the injury or sickness.
x x x x
ART. 198. [192] Permanent Total Disability - (a) Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, any employee under this Title who contracts sickness or sustains an injury resulting in his permanent total disability shall, for each month until his death, be paid by the System during such a disability, an amount equivalent to the monthly income benefit, plus ten percent thereof for each dependent child, but not exceeding five, beginning with the youngest and without substitution: Provided, That the monthly income benefit shall be the new amount of the monthly benefit for all covered pensioners, effective upon approval of this Decree.
x x x x
(c) the following disabilities shall be deemed total and permanent:
(1) Temporary total disability lasting continuously for more than one hundred twenty days, except as otherwise provided for in the Rules;
xxxx
ART. 199. [193] Permanent Partial Disability - (a) Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, any employee under this Title who contracts sickness or sustains an injury resulting in permanent partial disability shall, for each month not exceeding the period designated herein, be paid by the System during such a disability an income benefit for permanent total disability.
xxxx (Emphases and underscoring supplied)
59 Department Advisory No. 1, Series of 2015, entitled "RENUMBERING OF THE LABOR CODE OF THE Philippines, As Amended" dated July 21, 2015.
60Rule XTemporary Total Disability
xxxx
Section 2. Period of entitlement - (a) The income benefit shall be paid beginning on the first day of such disability. If caused by an injury or sickness it shall not be paid longer than 120 consecutive days except where such injury or sickness still requires medical attendance beyond 120 days but not to exceed 240 days from onset of disability in which case benefit for temporary total disability shall be paid. However, the System may declare the total and permanent status at any time after 120 days of continuous temporary total disability as may be warranted by the degree of actual loss or impairment of physical or mental functions as determined by the System.
xxxx
61 (June 1, 1987).
62 See Gargallo v. Dohle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc., 769 Phil. 915, 926-927 (2015).
63 691 Phil. 521 (2012).
64 753 Phil. 308 (2015).
65C.F. Sharp Crew Management, Inc. v. Took, supra note 63, at 538-539, as cited in Veritas, id. at 320- 321.
66 Supra note 62.
67 Id. at 931, citing Veritas, supra note 64, at 320, further citing Vergara v. Hammonia Maritime Services, Inc., 588 Phil. 895, 914 (2008).
68 728 Phil. 244 (2014).
69 Id. at 256.
70 See Tiquio's Rejoinder (to [Petitioners'] Reply) dated December 8, 2014, stamped "received" by the Office of the LA on December 16, 2014 (see CA rollo, p. 117), attaching therewith the December 3, 2014 medical certificate of Dr. San Luis (id. at 122-123).
71 See id. at 122-123.
72 See comment dated January 3, 2019, rollo, p. 105.
73 See CA rollo, p. 142.
74 See Gargallo v. Dohle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc., supra note 62, at 930 citing Veritas, supra note 64, at 317-318.
75 See Ayungo v. Beamko Shipmanagement Corporation, supra note 68.
76 See medical certification; CA rollo, pp. 156-157.
77 See medical certification; id. at 160-161.
78 Petitioners argued that they simply continued respondent John Frederick T. Tiquio's treatment out of liberality, notwithstanding the "not work-related" and "disability not applicable" assessment of the CDP in the following instances: (1) Position Paper (for the [Petitioners]) dated October 27, 2014 filed before the LA (see id. at 143); (2) Notice of Appeal with Memorandum of Appeal dated May 26, 2015 filed before the NLRC (see id. at 189 and 199); (3) Comment to the Motion for Reconsideration of the NLRC's November 26, 2015 Decision dated January 5, 2016 (see id. at 276 and 279); and (4) Comment to the Petition for Certiorari with Manifestation of Refusal to Mediate before the CA dated July 5, 2016 (see id. at 299 and 302).
79 G.R. No. 192442, August 9, 2017, 836 SCRA 151.
80 Id. at 162.
81 773 Phil. 648, 658 (2015).
82Romana, supra note 79, at 163.
83 Substantial Evidence is traditionally defined as "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as sufficient to support a conclusion." See id. at 161, citing Racelis v. United Philippine Lines, Inc., 746 Phil. 758, 769 (2014) and David v. OSG Shipmanagement Manila, Inc., 695 Phil. 906, 921 (2012).
84 See Romana, supra note 79, at 168.
85 Id. at 168-170.
86 Douglas S. Ross, et al., 2016 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis, p. 1347 < https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/thy.2016.0229 > (visited May 27, 2019); and Rebecca S. Bahn, MD, et al., Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis: Management Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, p. 459 < https://www.aace.com/files/hyperguidelinesapril2013.pdf > (visited May 27, 2019). See also < https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/graves-disease > (visited May 27, 2019); < https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/autoimmune-diseases> (visited May 27, 2019); < https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000358.htm > (visited May 27, 2019); and < https://www.healthline.com/health/graves-disease > (visited May 27, 2019).Graves' disease is caused by a malfunction in the body's disease-fighting immune system, although the exact reason why this happens is still unknown.
One normal immune system response is the production of antibodies designed to target a specific virus, bacterium or other foreign substance. In Graves' disease — for reasons that aren't well understood — the body produces an antibody to one part of the cells in the thyroid gland, a hormone-producing gland in the neck.
Normally, thyroid function is regulated by a hormone released by a tiny gland at the base of the brain (pituitary gland). The antibody associated with Graves' disease — thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) — acts like the regulatory pituitary hormone. That means that TRAb overrides the normal regulation of the thyroid, causing an overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). < https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/graves-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20356240 > (visited May 27, 2019).
See further (visited May 27, 2019); and (visited May 27,2019).
87 Normally, "[t]he immune system destroys foreign invaders with substances called antibodies produced by blood cells known as lymphocytes. Sometimes the immune system can be tricked into making antibodies that cross-react with proteins on our own cells. In many cases these antibodies can cause destruction of those cells. In Graves' disease these antibodies (called the thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) or thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) do the opposite – they cause the cells to work overtime. The antibodies in Graves' disease bind to receptors on the surface of thyroid cells and stimulate those cells to overproduce and release thyroid hormones. This results in an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)." < https://www.thyroid.org/graves-disease/ > (visited May 27, 2019).
88 See < https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/what-are-common-symptoms-of-autoimmune-disease > (visited May 27, 2019); < https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/graves-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20356240 > (visited May 27, 2019); and < http://www.btf-thyroid.org/information/leaflets/41-hyperthyroidism-guide > (visited May 27, 2019).
89 See https://www.healthline.com/health/autoimmune-disorders#causes (visited May 27, 2019); and https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/graves-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20356240 (visited May 27, 2019).
90 See < https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/graves-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20356240> (visited May 27, 2019). These include "vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis, Addison's disease, type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia[,] and lupus" (< https: www.medicmenet.com/ graves_disease/article.htm [last visited May 27, 2019]), as well celiac disease (https:// www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/graves-disease [last visited May 27, 2019]). 91 Douglas S. Ross, et al., 2016 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis, p. 1347 (visited May 27, 2019); Rebecca S. Bahn, MD, et al., Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis: Management Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, p. 461 < https://www.aace.com/files/hyperguidelinesapril2013.pdf > (visited May 27 2019); (visited May 27 2019); and < https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/thyroid/hyperthyroidism > (last accessed May 27, 2019). "In about three in every four cases, [hyperthyroidism] is caused by a condition called Graves' disease" (see < https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/overactive-thyroid-hyperthyroidism/causes/ > [visited May 27, 2019]).
Other causes of hyperthyroidism are: toxic multinodular goitre, solitary toxic thyroid adenoma, thyroiditis, as well as when too much replacement thyroxine (levothyroxine) is taken as a treatment for an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) (see [visited May 27, 2019]), including also thyroid cancer, pituitary adenoma, and high levels of a substance called human chorionic gonadotrophin (see [last accessed May 27, 2019]).
92 A doctor specializing in thyroid and other endocrine disorders (see < http://www.btf- thyroid.org/information/leaflets/41-hyperthyroidism-guide >; and [visited May 27, 2019]). Endocrinologists are specially trained physicians who diagnose diseases related to the glands. They treat people who suffer from hormonal imbalances, typically from glands in the endocrine system, i.e., thyroid disorders which include hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease (see < https://www.hormone.org/you-and-your-endocrinologist > and < https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/thyroid > [visited May 27, 2019]).
93 See CA rollo, pp. 170-171.
94 See id. at 122-123.
95 Id. at 123.
96 "A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system. The nervous system is made of two parts: the central and peripheral nervous system. It includes the brain and spinal cord. Illnesses, disorders, and injuries that involve the nervous system often require a neurologist's management and treatment." (underscoring supplied) < https://www.healthline.com/health/neurologist > (visited May 27, 2019).
Neurology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders of the nervous system. The nervous system is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates body activities. It has two major divisions:
- Central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord
- Peripheral nervous system: all other neural elements, such as eyes, ears, skin, and other "sensory receptors"
- A doctor who specializes in neurology is called a neurologist. The neurologist treats disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, such as:
- Movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease
- Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy
- Speech and language disorders (< https: www.urmc.rochester.edu/highland/departments-centers/neurology/what-is-a-neurologist.asp x > [visited May 27, 2019]).
- 97 See CA rollo, p. 39.
98 Supra note 32.
99 See id. at 224-225.