WAC 296-23-362   May a worker bring someone with them to an independent medical examination (IME)?  (1) Workers can bring an adult friend or family member to the IME to provide comfort and reassurance. That accompanying person may attend the physical examination but may not attend a psychiatric examination.

     (2) The accompanying person cannot be compensated for attending the examination by anyone in any manner.

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

     (4) The purpose of the IME is to provide information to assist in the determination of the level of any permanent impairment not to conduct an adversarial procedure. Therefore, 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 doctor, any other provider involved in the worker's care, or any other personnel employed by the attending doctor or other provider involved in the worker's care.

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



[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.32.055, 51.32.112, 51.32.114, 51.36.060, and 51.36.070. 04-04-029, § 296-23-362, filed 1/27/04, effective 3/1/04.]