Does a supplier need to lodge a mandatory report with the ACCC when they advise a customer to consider seeking medical attention?

Scenario: A customer tells a supplier that they believe the use of a consumer good received from the supplier caused them an acute physical injury or illness. The customer also says they have not sought treatment from a doctor or nurse. The supplier then advises the customer to consider seeking medical treatment.

Does the advice provided by the supplier in this scenario, recommending the customer seeks medical advice, trigger the mandatory reporting obligation?

Answer: No. However, in this situation, a supplier may wish to consider asking the customer to inform them if they do obtain treatment from a doctor or nurse in relation to the injury or illness. If this happens – ie if the supplier becomes aware that the customer did obtain treatment from a doctor or nurse, the ACCC would then need to be notified within 2 days of the supplier becoming aware.

Visit the Mandatory reporting section of this website for more information.