The Role of the Occupational Therapist in Valuing “Unpaid Work” and How It Impacts Wrongful Death Claims

measuring and quantifying the household service “unpaid work”. An examination will be made regarding the concept of unpaid work, the role and expertise of the occupational therapist, the measurement of this work, and finally the quantification of this work for loss of service reports. “No amount of money could ever replace the contribution that a loved one makes to the people around him or her…The awarding of money, however, is the only remedy which a court has available to it in the circumstances such as this” (Hechavarria v. Reale [2000] O.J. No. 4288) In wrongful death cases, the survivors are entitled to recover their pecuniary losses resulting from the death. One potential area for recovery involves reimbursing for the domestic and caregiving services that were performed by the deceased prior to the death. The term “unpaid work” is frequently used to represent that portion of daily activity that is being completed by an individual on behalf of the household without remuneration, rather than purchasing the services. Compensation in these cases is dependent on placing a monetary value on the time spent performing the “unpaid work”.