Preparing the company physician to testify at legal proceedings

Company physicians are frequently required to testify as to their findings and opinions in cases where employees' health jeopardizes their work status. The company physician may face conflicting ethical obligations in weighing the physician-patient relationship against the needs of the employer. If the employee seeks outside health care assistance, the company physician may have to testify against other health care professionals. The three most common forums in which the company physician may be asked to submit medical reports and/or testify are arbitration hearings, workers' claims for Social Security disability, and workers' compensation insurance benefits. Company physicians should be aware of the nature of each type of proceeding and they should be prepared to render persuasive expert testimony.