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 North Carolina, an Independent Medical Examination (IME) is often utilized in the context of workers' compensation claims and personal injury litigation. State statutes and regulations, particularly those under the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act, allow for an IME to be requested by an insurance company or a defendant to assess the extent and cause of an injury claimed by a worker or plaintiff. The IME is conducted by a medical professional who has not previously been involved in the claimant's care to provide an objective assessment. The results of the IME can influence the determination of benefits in a workers' compensation case or the outcome of a personal injury lawsuit. The examining physician reviews medical records, conducts a physical examination, and produces a report that may be used in legal proceedings. If a claimant refuses to comply with a reasonable request for an IME, they may jeopardize their right to pursue their claim. It's important to note that the IME is not for the purpose of providing medical treatment but rather to obtain an expert opinion on the injury's relation to the claim.