There are generally no true company-required medical appointments, with one important exception. Your employer should not be telling you which doctor to use for treating your work injury. However, if you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits or claiming workers’ comp, the employer—or more commonly the insurance company—can require you to be examined by a doctor of their choosing to obtain an opinion about your injury or recommended treatment. This is called an independent medical examination, though it is not truly independent since it is arranged and paid for by the insurance company. These exams often favor the insurer’s interests rather than those of the injured worker. Still, you are obligated to attend, cooperate, and allow the doctor to perform a one-time examination. It’s a situation where having representation is particularly important, as your lawyer can prepare you for what to expect, explain why the insurance company is requesting the exam, and discuss possible outcomes. For guidance on your rights, our Rhode Island workers compensation attorneys can help you navigate the process, and you may also find it helpful to review our denied claim appeal in RI for broader insight. Related topics such as insurance monitoring or pressures to return to work often arise in similar situations.

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