Magnifying Glass
Back to Workers' Compensation Daily Headlines

Do You Know the Rule? Wash. IME Accompanying Person

25 Apr, 2024 Frank Ferreri

                               

Seattle, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) -- Can a worker in the State of Washington bring someone with them to an independent medical examination?

The answer is yes, and here are the rules for when a worker has an accompanying person at an IME.

Workers can bring an adult observer to the IME to provide comfort and reassurance.

The accompanying person will not be compensated for attending the examination by the department or self-insured employer. The accompanying person must be unobtrusive at all times. Obtrusive behavior includes, but is not limited to, verbally or physically interrupting, interfering, or obstructing the examination in any way.

Get state compliance info from Washington or the rest of the U.S. with Simply Research

The accompanying person cannot be:

(a) The worker's attorney, paralegal, any other legal representative, or any other personnel employed by the worker's attorney or legal representative; or
(b) The worker's attending provider, any other provider involved in the worker's care, or any other personnel employed by the attending provider or other provider involved in the worker's care.

Additionally, the department may designate other conditions under which the accompanying person is allowed to be present during the IME.

What about interpreters?

A worker may not bring an interpreter to the examination. If interpretive services are needed, the department or self-insurer will provide an interpreter.

  • AI california case management case management focus claims compensability compliance courts covid do you know the rule emotions exclusive remedy florida FMLA glossary check Healthcare health care hr homeroom insurance insurers iowa leadership medical NCCI new jersey new york ohio osha pennsylvania roadmap Safety state info technology texas violence WDYT west virginia what do you think women's history women's history month workcompcollege workers' comp 101 workers' recovery Workplace Safety Workplace Violence

    • Read Also

    Judge Sentences Business Owner who Shot Employee to 7 Years

    Safety at Work Toledo, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Toledo judge sentenced a local businessman to seven years in prison for fatally shooting one of his employees. Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Dean Mandros said that […]
    Parents of Deceased Ark. Worker Lose Out to Son’s Wife on Dependency Benefits

    Case File While it was culturally accepted that a worker would take care of his parents as they got older, the fact that he was married at the time of his on-the-job death meant that […]
    Doctor’s Opinion doesn’t Meet ‘Sufficiently Rationalized’ Standard to Terminate SSA Rep’s Benefits

    Federal Focus Just because a doctor says someone's condition has resolved doesn't mean it brings sufficient medical rationale to satisfy federal workers' compensation law. Simply Research subscribers have access to the full text of the […]

    About The Author

    • Frank Ferreri

      Frank Ferreri, M.A., J.D. covers workers' compensation legal issues. He has published books, articles, and other material on multiple areas of employment, insurance, and disability law. Frank received his master's degree from the University of South Florida and juris doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Frank encourages everyone to consider helping out the Kind Souls Foundation and Kids' Chance of America.

    More by This Author

    Parents of Deceased Ark. Worker Lose Out to Son’s Wife on Dependency Benefits

    Case File While it was culturally accepted that a worker would take care of his parents as they got older, the fact that he was married at the time of his on-the-job death meant that […]
    Doctor’s Opinion doesn’t Meet ‘Sufficiently Rationalized’ Standard to Terminate SSA Rep’s Benefits

    Federal Focus Just because a doctor says someone's condition has resolved doesn't mean it brings sufficient medical rationale to satisfy federal workers' compensation law. Simply Research subscribers have access to the full text of the […]
    $4,300 Counsel Fees Meet Criteria for Lien on N.Y. Employer’s Reimbursement

    Case File When a claimant's attorney sought fees in connect with a claim, the court found a lien on the employer's reimbursement was in line with New York's Workers' Compensation Law. Simply Research subscribers have […]

    Read More

    Judge Sentences Business Owner who Shot Employee to 7 Years

    Safety at Work Toledo, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Toledo judge sentenced a local businessman to seven years in prison for fatally shooting one of his employees. Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Dean Mandros said that […]
    Parents of Deceased Ark. Worker Lose Out to Son’s Wife on Dependency Benefits

    Case File While it was culturally accepted that a worker would take care of his parents as they got older, the fact that he was married at the time of his on-the-job death meant that […]
    Doctor’s Opinion doesn’t Meet ‘Sufficiently Rationalized’ Standard to Terminate SSA Rep’s Benefits

    Federal Focus Just because a doctor says someone's condition has resolved doesn't mean it brings sufficient medical rationale to satisfy federal workers' compensation law. Simply Research subscribers have access to the full text of the […]
    Voluntary Withdrawal from the Workforce in Pa. 

    Do You Know the Rule? A worker whose injury has forced him to retire generally may continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits in Pennsylvania. An employer may file a petition seeking to terminate a claimant's […]
    Minnesota’s Retirement Presumption 

    Do You Know the Rule? Employers may be able to terminate a worker’s PTD benefits on an employee’s 67 birthday. This is because the workers’ compensation act presumes that, by that age, the employee would […]
    4 Crew Members Injured in Severe Turbulence Incident

    Safety at Work San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Four crew members were injured when severe turbulence hit a United Airlines flight to Singapore last month. Officials said a passenger was also injured in the incident. […]