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 Rhode Island, an Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a tool used by insurance companies or defendants in personal injury cases, including workers' compensation claims, to assess the extent of an injury claimed by a plaintiff or claimant. The IME is conducted by a medical professional who has not previously been involved in the claimant's care, to provide an objective evaluation of the injury and its relation to the claimed incident. The results of the IME can influence the outcome of the claim, as they may be used to challenge the claimant's assertions regarding the cause and severity of the injury. While Rhode Island law does not have specific statutes that detail the process of IMEs, they are governed by the rules of civil procedure and workers' compensation regulations. Claimants may be required to undergo an IME at the request of an insurer or defendant, and refusal to comply could potentially jeopardize their ability to successfully pursue their claim. The IME doctor's report is typically used for litigation or claim defense purposes rather than for treatment recommendations.