An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a tool used by the workers' compensation insurance company to have its own doctor review the physical condition of an injured worker. The Independent Medical Examiner, usually a doctor chosen and paid by the workers' compensation insurance company, will review an injured worker's medical records and examine the injured worker. The IME doctor will then issue a written report to the workers' compensation insurance company. A copy of that written report is usually not provided to the injured worker. The law requires an injured worker to attend an IME requested by the insurance company, but the injured worker does have rights! The problem with the current workers' compensation system is that the injured worker has no way of knowing what his rights are.

An IME costs the workers' compensation insurance company money. Therefore, it is usually only requested when the insurance company feels it may disagree with the injured worker's treating doctor, and wants to interfere with that treatment or refuse to pay for it. The other reason that an insurance company will request an IME is that it disagrees with the treating doctor's restrictions on the injured worker. In those instances, the insurance company requests an IME to force an injured worker to do more work than is recommended by his/her treating physician. In either event, AN IME SPELLS TROUBLE! If you have been asked to attend an IME, you should call our office immediately.