Hereditary spherocytosis
Meaning of hereditary spherocytosis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, hereditary spherocytosis means a group of genetic disorders of red blood cells, involving the production of spherical red blood cells which are susceptible to haemolysis.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 41 of 2023
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting hereditary spherocytosis or death from hereditary spherocytosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having an acute viral infection within the 6 weeks before the clinical worsening of hereditary spherocytosis;
- (2)being pregnant within the 6 weeks before the clinical worsening of hereditary spherocytosis;
- (3)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for hereditary spherocytosis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(1) to 9(3) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 42 of 2023
3 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, hereditary spherocytosis or death from hereditary spherocytosis is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having an acute viral infection within the 6 weeks before the clinical worsening of hereditary spherocytosis;
- (2)being pregnant within the 6 weeks before the clinical worsening of hereditary spherocytosis;
- (3)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for hereditary spherocytosis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(1) to 9(3) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.








