Defense Medical Exams~Arizona~Doctor liable despite no patient relationship

[Guest guest]

This is an interesting case that is relevant to the mold issue. It is no

secret that there are many physicians out there who have not treated

patients in years, but make a fine living doing medical exams and paper reviews

on behalf of insurers and employers that have a foregone conclusion of

denial of causation of illness before the patient and/or his medical records

walk in the IME physicians' doors.

This case could have a big impact on the methods and responsibilties of

IME physicians. Its about time those, who are nothing more than high paid

defensors, be held accountable for these types of actions.

Sharon

_http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/prca0810.htm_

(http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/prca0810.htm)

Doctor liable despite no patient relationship

In the Courts. By _Amy Lynn Sorrel_

(http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/site/bio.htm#sorrel) , AMNews staff. Posted

Aug. 10, 2009.

____________________________________

_IN THE COURTS_ (http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/site/columns.htm#mdlg)

_Analyzing the impact of recent court decisions on physicians_

(http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/site/columns.htm#mdlg)

_SEE ARCHIVES_ (http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/site/columns.htm#mdlg)

Physicians performing independent medical examinations on behalf of

employers or insurance carriers typically are not expected to establish a

traditional patient-doctor relationship with the examinee. In fact, consent

forms

or other agreements often make clear that bond does not exist, and the

doctor is not providing actual medical care.

Nevertheless, an Arizona appeals court recently found that a doctor doing

one such exam on behalf of a workers' compensation carrier could be held

partially liable for the death of a man he evaluated. The doctor is asking the

state Supreme Court to hear the case.