Q: Is it legal for my personal work comp doctor to be discussing my case with opposing council off record?
It has come to light that my doctor is personal friends with both parties (my lawyer and my employers lawyer). The doctor is having conversations (not in court or under any court orders) about my case with both. I feel like something is very wrong here.
A:
Maybe. There are potential legal and ethical issues. To properly evaluate your situation, it is important to know whether or not you have signed an authorization to allow the release of your medical information. If so, has that authorization been revoked? If there is a valid authorization to allow contact, there isn't an issue.
Another important factor is what you mean by discuss. The doctor is required to forward copies of his records and other forms to the insurance carrier as part of the billing process, so if you are referring to providing medical records, that would be perfectly acceptable.
Regardless, I would strongly suggest that you call your lawyer and let them know what is going on. If you do not have a lawyer, you should get one to avoid future issues such as this.
1 user found this answer helpful
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