Yes, they can. And I don’t mean yes they can in the sense that they can pick what doctor is your treating doctor—the doctor whose job it is, like any doctor you normally see, to get you better. What I mean is that if the insurance company sends you a notice that they want you examined by a doctor they’ve chosen, hired, and paid for, you do have to attend that examination.

But they cannot decide who your treating doctor is. You can continue treating with your own doctor, and you remain entitled to receive reasonable and necessary medical care for your injury. The insurance company simply has the right to have you examined from time to time, at reasonable intervals, by a doctor of their choosing. It’s also important to understand that this is not your doctor—there is no physician-patient relationship. They are not there to treat you or get you better, and you cannot bring a malpractice claim against them if they give an incorrect opinion to the insurance company. For more clarity on your rights in these situations, you can review our workers comp lawyer in Rhode Island resource or the RI workers’ comp benefits. You can also explore related issues like treatment denials or the role of your medical provider’s opinion.

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