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Treatment camps divided over guideline     Copyright Thompson’s World Insurance News     Not to be redistributed by individual recipients.)     Ontario’s new minor auto injury treatment guideline (Thompson’s, June 21) has pleased insurers but some other stakeholders are less than enthusiastic about the reform measure.     The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the guideline goes a long way toward the provincial government’s goal of making sure accident victims receive appropriate treatment.     “The guideline brings a great deal of clarity to the government’s intention that people suffering sprain or strain injuries receive treatment that accords with the best scientific knowledge about how to support recovery from these injuries,” IBC Ontario vp Ralph Palumbo said.     “We are hopeful that everyone involved in treating and advising these injury victims will embrace the letter and spirit of the guideline.”     But some industry service providers say the guideline imposes treatments limits that are too low. And one party is disappointed that the minor injury treatment guideline was even developed at all.     “As a principle player in the submissions to the government concerning the upcoming changes to auto insurance at no time did Ontario Trial Lawyers Association support any inclusion of a minor injury guideline,” said Patrick Brown, OTLA past president and lawyer with the firm McLeish Orlando.     “In fact we categorically opposed such inclusion when it became apparent one was contemplated.”     He believes the intent was to drastically reduce the amounts being paid out to claimants.     “OTLA vigorously maintained that sufficient costs savings to the industry in the accident benefits system could be achieved by simplifying the system to deliver benefits more efficiently and reduce transaction costs.”     Mr. Brown said he believes the guideline goes well beyond what the average person would consider as “minor.”     Much more in our June 28 2010 edition including other criticisms. If you are not a regular reader, go to www.thompsonsnews.com and click on subscribe on the right hand side of the page.        Thompson’s World Insurance News P.O. Box 1027,  Waterloo, Ontario,  Canada  N2J 4S1 Tel: 519-579-2500 Fax: 519-745-7321 mpub@sympatico.ca THOMPSON’S WORLD INSURANCE NEWS , Canada’s only independent weekly for p&c insurance professionals, has been the industry’s most trusted news source since 1988.