Disablement
7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a reference in these Regulations to a person being permanently disabled is to be taken as a reference to that person being disabled at the time when the question arises for decision and to that disablement being at that time likely to be permanent.
(2) In the case of a person who is totally disabled, paragraph (1) shall have effect, for the purposes of regulations 12 and 21 of these Regulations, as if the reference to “that disablement being at that time likely to be permanent” were a reference to the total disablement of that person being likely to be permanent.
(3) For the purposes of deciding if a person’s disablement is likely to be permanent, that person shall be assumed to receive normal appropriate medical treatment for his disablement, and in this paragraph “appropriate medical treatment” shall not include medical treatment that it is reasonable in the opinion of the police authority for that person to refuse.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5), disablement means inability, occasioned by infirmity of mind or body, to perform the ordinary duties of a member of the force except that, in relation to the child or to the widower or surviving civil partner of a woman member of a police force, it means inability, occasioned as aforesaid, to earn a living.
(5) Where it is necessary to determine the degree of a person’s disablement it shall be determined by reference to the degree to which his earning capacity has been affected as a result of an injury received without his own default in the execution of his duty as a member of a police force:
Provided that a person shall be deemed to be totally disabled if, as a result of such an injury, he is receiving treatment as an in-patient at a hospital.
(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (5), “totally disabled” means incapable by reason of the disablement in question of earning any money in any employment and “total disablement” shall be construed accordingly.
(7) Where a person has retired before becoming disabled and the date on which he becomes disabled cannot be ascertained, it shall be taken to be the date on which the claim that he is disabled is first made known to the police authority.
(8) In this regulation, “infirmity” means a disease, injury or medical condition, and includes a mental disorder, injury or condition.