An independent medical examination (IME) is a medical examination of a personal injury claimant or plaintiff by a medical doctor, psychologist, or other health care provider who is not the claimant or plaintiff’s treating physician or health care provider.

For example, an insurance company (insurer) may request an IME of a workers’ compensation claimant to determine the nature of the injury and provide an expert opinion on whether the injury was caused by a recent workplace accident or is a preexisting injury. Or a defendant (or the defendant’s insurer) may request an IME of a personal injury claimant or plaintiff during the investigation or litigation of a liability claim related to a motor vehicle accident or other incident.

The purpose of an IME is to provide an expert opinion from the treating physician for purposes of defending the claim or litigation—not to provide the injured claimant or plaintiff with a second opinion or with medical treatment. The physician conducting the IME will typically review the medical records of the claimant or plaintiff, interview and evaluate the claimant or plaintiff during the IME, and prepare a report with the physician’s findings (an IME report).

A claimant or plaintiff generally must submit to an IME or lose the right to pursue the insurance claim (workers’ compensation) or liability claim in litigation.

In Iowa, an Independent Medical Examination (IME) is often utilized in the context of workers' compensation and personal injury litigation. When an insurance company or a defendant requests an IME, it is to assess the extent of the injury claimed by a worker or plaintiff and to determine whether the injury is related to the workplace accident or incident in question. The IME is conducted by a medical professional who has not previously treated the individual. The findings from the IME can be critical in the resolution of a workers' compensation claim or in a personal injury lawsuit, as they provide an objective assessment of the injuries and can influence the outcome of the claim. If a claimant or plaintiff refuses to comply with an IME request, they may jeopardize their ability to successfully pursue their claim. It's important to note that the IME is not for the purpose of offering medical treatment or a second opinion to the injured party, but rather to provide an expert opinion for the defense of the claim or litigation.