| The testimony of the doctor who did the independent | | | | the cause but also the extent of the health problem |
| medical examination, is of prime importance in | | | | and can probably predict the best treatment for it. |
| workplace injury litigations where the petitioner claims | | | | Moreover, a post-treatment IME can provide an exact |
| to suffer from some kind of work related injury or | | | | picture of how an individual responds to a medical |
| disability. Depending on the IME report of the petitioner's | | | | treatment, and whether he or she derived maximum |
| health status, the employer (or insurance carrier) can | | | | benefit from it. Therefore, although an IME report is not |
| even refuse compensation to the employee. | | | | the same as a "second opinion," it has benefits both |
| Worker's compensation is a type of insurance | | | | for the employer and the employee. |
| provided by employers in most industrial societies to | | | | In an IME, the doctor first interviews the patient to learn |
| ensure the welfare of their employees. It ensures that | | | | more about the injury. He or she will observe the |
| a worker can claim either financial support or medical | | | | general appearance of the patient and will be |
| care (the exact type of compensation depends on the | | | | specifically looking for any external manifestations of |
| workplace and work conditions) from the employer | | | | the injury (wounds, burns, broken bones and the like). |
| whenever he or she incurs a work related health | | | | Any signs of emotional distress or mental depression |
| problem or disability. In any circumstance whereby the | | | | are also noted by the IME doctor. All medical reports |
| employer refuses to provide this care, the worker has | | | | related to the injury and general health condition, |
| the right to sue the management for the tort of | | | | X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, etc., will be checked. If a |
| negligence. Hence, compensation is always provided | | | | patient is treated by more than one specialist for a |
| on the employee's assurance that he or she will not | | | | health issue, more than one IME may be required. For |
| have recourse to any (legal) measures outside the | | | | example, if the plaintiff is undergoing treatment by both |
| compensation system. This tradeoff is popularly known | | | | an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist, separate |
| as "the compensation bargain." | | | | IMEs have to be conducted by specialists from both |
| Since an IME is usually requested by the defense, | | | | medical fields. In some cases, separate IMEs may |
| there is widespread suspicion regarding the | | | | result in the employer providing compensation for a |
| examination. Most people believe it just a charade | | | | part of the medical treatment. |
| conducted in order to make the side of the defense | | | | No system is flawless, and there may be medical |
| stronger, so that the insurance carrier or employer can | | | | practitioners who misuse their responsibility as IME |
| refuse compensation to the worker. Hence, IME is | | | | doctors. But thankfully, there are many medical |
| popularly known as "Defense Medical Examination" or | | | | evaluation companies that provide a network of |
| "Adverse Medical Examination." What they forget is | | | | committed doctors who can give trustworthy reports |
| that an IME necessarily reports the current status of a | | | | on your health status. |
| person's health, and this data can determine not only | | | | |