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Can an insurance company give my medical file to an independent doctor?

  • 02-02-2013 6:23pm
    #1
    thunderwing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16 ✭


    Can an insurance company give my medical file to an independent doctor?

    I posted this in, banking and insurance forum but it may be a legal question.

    I have recently received a report from my insurance company re an income protection claim, and it contained a report from an independent doctor that they had sent me to.

    However it seems to me that this 'independent" doctor's opinion was based on more then the information that I gave him and the tests that he carried out during his examination.

    I gave him a verbal account of my medical history and my present condition and reason for claim.

    In his report, in his professional medical opinion he concurred with my medical history while rejecting my present testimony.

    Can he use my verbal testimony to base his 'medical opinion' on ? and then decide what parts to choose to agree with or not.


Comments

  • #2
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,624 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    I'm confused. You call him an 'independent' doctor yet you imply that the insurance company picked him - that makes him not independent surely as I assume he's being paid by the insurance company?

    The doctor in your case could only be independent if he was picked by a third party like an arbitrator.


  • #3
    thunderwing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16 ✭thunderwing


    That what the insurance company have called him " independently medically examined by Dr xxx, specialist in xxxxxxxxxx medicine".
    He is independent of my own Dr and Consultants.


  • #4
    Stheno
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,690 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    thunderwing wrote: »
    That what the insurance company have called him " independently medically examined by Dr xxx, specialist in xxxxxxxxxx medicine".
    He is independent of my own Dr and Consultants.

    He's working on behalf of the insurance company so they get an opinion independant of your doctors


  • #5
    thunderwing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16 ✭thunderwing


    Stheno wrote: »
    He's working on behalf of the insurance company so they get an opinion independant of your doctors

    Does this mean that he is entitled to see my medical file which contains all my own doctors opinions and findings ?


  • #6
    Stheno
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,690 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    thunderwing wrote: »
    Does this mean that he is entitled to see my medical file which contains all my own doctors opinions and findings ?

    If you've given the insurance company permission to get copies of your doctors files, then they can and do hand them over to doctors working for them.


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  • #7
    thunderwing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16 ✭thunderwing


    Stheno wrote: »
    If you've given the insurance company permission to get copies of your doctors files, then they can and do hand them over to doctors working for them.

    Does this not compromise his independent position, if some of his findings are based or 'dependent' on someone Else's findings and opinions? rendering them not independent.


  • #8
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,624 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Background and history (of illnesses and treatment) are important elements in medical diagnosis, that's why we tend to stick with the same doctor. It's unrealistic to expect a doctor to make a full diagnosis and issue a prognosis without access to your medical history.


  • #9
    Bren157
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44 ✭Bren157


    A doctor will only follow the documented facts on your file. To do otherwise wouldbe career suicide. A doctor will only form a view based on a mix of medical history and any current test results. Your verbal communication would be of help but would play only the most minor part in any doctor report to an insurance company.


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